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Case study:
safe routes to school
in Broxbourne
The
Impact
77,739
estimated trips were made
on the route in 2012.
A new bridge and path over the busy A10
has linked St Mary’s School to Cedars Park
and created a vital connection between
Bury Green and Waltham Cross
The challenge
The Borough of Broxbourne, in Hertfordshire, is on the edge of London with the M25
and the A10 passing through the area as well as the Lee Valley and a major railway
line. The A10 has always been a major barrier for local people walking and cycling
from one side of the borough to the other. The relocation of St Mary’s School to the
southern edge of Bury Green created additional challenges, with over a third of pupils
attending St Marys High School having to cross the A10 on their route to school.
The solution
Broxbourne Borough Council developed a
proposal for a new bridge, in conjunction with
Hertfordshire County Council and Sustrans,
designed to link together communities east and
west of the busy A10. The new network extends
to St Mary’s School and Bury Green Road.
The route was designed to provide a direct,
convenient route to Waltham Cross town centre
and nearby railway stations and amenities, giving
all residents the same access to facilities.
Work
Work
33% School School
A third of all journeys made
on the route are to get to
school or work.
1in 3 people using
the route make this journey
every day
10,500
estimated car trips replaced
by the route in 2012
Footnote: based on route user intercept survey data
from one site at Theobald’s Lane, Cheshunt

a third of our schools
population comes from the side
“”Over
of the road that is served by the
footpath and bridge, so it has a big
impact for us and I know that the
parents and carers are very pleased
that is it now in place. The bridge
is a really important feature of our
community. It has meant that our
children can come to school safely
and it allows more children to come
and use these [St Marys School]
“”
facilities
Stephanie Benbow, Head Teacher,
St Mary’s School
The difference
23,000 people living within half a mile of the bridge and paths now have easy access to schools
and other amenities on foot and by bike. St Mary’s High School directly benefits and over half
of people using the route are children. Sustrans’ Bike It officer has encouraged more children
to use the route by working directly within local schools to promote it. More people are cycling
thanks to the route, with 1 in 10 people using it new to cycling.
The future
Sustrans’ very successful personalised travel planning programme was rolled out to 8,000
households in the Borough of Broxbourne, providing tailor-made information and support to
encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport more often and this has helped
increase walking and cycling locally. Sustrans is continuing to promote the new network by
supporting community events and running family friendly bike rides and walks.
Want to find out more?
Find out how we’re transforming local travel across the UK. Call 0117 926 8893,
email info@sustrans.org.uk or visit www.sustrans.org.uk.
Key
facts
Broxbourne
The scheme
A new bridge and path over
the busy A10 has linked
St Mary’s School to Cedars
Park and created a vital
connection between the
two communities of Bury
Green and Waltham Cross.
Big Lottery Fund Grant
£500,000
Scheme partners
Hertfordshire County
Council, Broxbourne
Borough Council,
St Mary’s High School,
local residents.
Schools benefitting
from the scheme
St Mary’s High School
1
The new route is part of
National Route 1
Sustrans makes smarter travel choices possible, desirable and inevitable.
We’re a leading UK charity enabling people to travel by foot, bike or public
transport for more of the journeys we make every day.
www.sustrans.org.uk Registered charity no. 326550 (England and Wales) SCO39263 (Scotland). Photo credits: Sustrans. © Sustrans 2013