Wednesday January 28th 2026
School pupils at Newtongrange Primary
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Midlothian Council has expanded its School Streets scheme to Newtongrange Primary, introducing temporary traffic restrictions at school drop‑off and pick‑up times.
School Streets temporarily restrict vehicle traffic outside school entrances during busy periods.
The restrictions apply to both school‑related and through‑traffic, creating a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment for pupils, families and local residents.
By reducing traffic congestion at school gates, the scheme encourages more children to walk, cycle or wheel to school. This supports the council’s wider commitment to promoting safer routes to school and improving air quality.
The restriction operates under a legal traffic order, and drivers who breach it may receive a fixed penalty of up to £100.
To mark the launch at Newtongrange Primary, the council’s Active Travel Officer, Oliver Caron‑Nowak, visited the school and met with Headteacher Laura Cameron and six pupil Environmental Officers: Jessie Wilson, Innes James Brown, Theodore Chupik, Eilidh Drummond, Emma Miceli and Georgia McNeil.
All the pupils welcomed the scheme, reporting that the School Streets scheme helped them feel safer when walking to school by preventing cars blocking the streets.
The Active Travel Team is currently encouraging all Midlothian residents to support the scheme by observing the restrictions and helping to keep routes around local schools safe.
School Streets is currently in place at six schools across the authority:
– Newtongrange Primary
– St Mary’s Primary
– St Luke’s Primary
– Strathesk Primary
– King’s Park Primary
– Lasswade Primary
