STEVE DOWNES The health of thousands of children could be boosted and the number of “Chelsea tractors” parked outside Norfolk schools reduced after the government handed over more than £530,000 to improve cycling and walking facilities.

STEVE DOWNES

The health of thousands of children could be boosted and the number of “Chelsea tractors” parked outside Norfolk schools reduced after the government handed over more than £530,000 to improve cycling and walking facilities.

It will be shared between 109 schools to pay for cycle sheds, improved access for pedestrians, new road crossings and to promote lift sharing.

Education chiefs hope the projects will encourage a “step change” in the attitude of parents who continue to drive their children to the school gate - often in gas-guzzling 4X4s, nicknamed Chelsea tractors.

The money is for individual school travel plans, which are drawn up by schools alongside Norfolk County Council. It takes the total number of schools with the plans to 384 - with the remaining 60-plus expected to complete theirs by March 2008.

Among the projects that will be funded through the latest grant is a Baltic chalet to provide wet weather shelter at Beeston Primary and a shelter incorporated into an amphitheatre dome at West Walton Primary.

The 109 schools will look to implement their plans between now and the end of the school year in July 2008.

Adrian Gunson, cabinet member for planning and transportation at the council, said: “This extra money to implement transport measures on school grounds is most welcome.

“It is important that Norfolk's children are encouraged to walk and cycle to school safely. I am pleased that Norfolk schools can work with the county council to implement measures of real benefit to the school, with support funding from central government to allow a step change in attitudes locally.”

The school travel plans have increased car sharing and the number of children walking, cycling or taking a bus to school. Figures published in January show a 15pc drop in the number of single children being dropped off by car.

t The schools getting a share of the £530,000 are:

Alderman Jackson Special School, King's Lynn; Alderman Peel High, Wells; Anthony Curton Primary, Walpole St Peter; Ashwicken First; Attleborough Infant; Attleborough Junior; Aylsham High; Beeston Primary; Blenheim Park Primary, Sculthorpe; Blofield Primary; Blyth-Jex School, Norwich; Brisley Primary; Bure Valley School, Aylsham; Church Hill School, Grimston; Cobholm First; Coltishall Primary; Corpusty Primary; Cromer High; Dereham Infant and Nursery; Dereham Sixth Form Centre; Diss High; Docking Primary and Nursery; Duchy of Lancaster Primary, Methwold; East Winch Primary; Eccles, Hargham and Wilby Primary; Emneth Primary; Erpingham Primary; Fakenham High and College; Fakenham Junior; Flitcham Primary; Forncett St Peter Primary; Foulsham Primary; Framingham Earl High; Fred Nicholson School, Dereham; Garrick Green First, Norwich; Garvestone Primary; Gayton First; Great Massingham Primary; Hamond's High, Swaffham; Hingham Primary; Hockwold Primary; Holt Primary; Horsford First; Horsham St Faith First; Howard Infant, King's Lynn; Howard Junior, King's Lynn; James Bradfield Primary, Stoke Ferry; John of Gaunt Infant and Nursery, Aylsham; Kenninghall Primary; King George VI School, Bircham; King's Park Infant, Dereham; Kinsale Middle, Norwich; Knowland Grove First, Norwich; Lingwood Junior; Litcham High; Little Melton First; Little Plumstead Primary; Little Snoring Primary; Long Stratton High; Marsham Primary; Methwold High; Mill View Middle, Norwich; Neatherd High, Dereham; Norman Primary, Northwold; North Walsham Junior; North Wootton School; Northgate St Andrews First, Yarmouth; Norwich High for Girls; Norwich School; Norwich Lower School; Ormesby First; Parker's Primary, Saham Toney; Rackheath Primary; Ranworth First; Redgate Junior, Hunstanton; Reedham Primary; Rockland St Mary Primary; Rocklands Primary; Rudham Primary; Sandringham and West Newton Primary; Scarning Primary; Scole Primary; Sculthorpe Primary; Shelton with Hardwick School; Sidestrand Hall School; Snettisham Primary; Southery Primary; Spooner Row Primary; Springwood High, King's Lynn; St Christopher's School, Norwich; St George's First and Nursery, Yarmouth; St Mary's Primary, Norwich; Stradbroke Primary; Swaffham First and Nursery; Thomas Bullock Primary, Shipdham; Thompson Primary; Thorpe House School, Norwich; Tilney All Saints Primary; Tuckswood First; Walpole Cross Keys Primary; Walsingham Primary; Weeting Primary; Wells Primary and Nursery; West Walton Primary; West Winch Primary; William Marshall Primary, Welney; Woodton Primary; Wymondham College; Yarmouth High.