Pupils help transport chiefs make people keen on green

PUPILS from Leeds schools have come up with novel ways of trying to persuade people to use greener methods of transport.

Three finalist schools from along the A61 corridor visited Metro in Leeds to present their ideas to the panel.

Their brief was to come up with a scheme to develop a concept, campaign or idea that will get people out of cars and help to reduce carbon emissions in the city.

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Year 6 pupils from Leeds’ Allerton Church of England Primary School came out on top when they visited Metro’s headquarters to pitch their green ideas to a panel of transport bosses.

The Allerton Primary group’s proposals for an incentive scheme which encourages pupils to walk cycle, scoot or use the bus to get to school caught the imaginations of the panel, which included Metro’s assistant director of customer services, Diane Groom, Dave Alexander, First’s northern regional managing director and Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for development.

Backing from Metro and First, and approval from the transport panel, means the council can begin working with the school to roll out the initiative to primary schools throughout Leeds.

The pupils were also awarded £500 and the use of a bus to take their classmates on a school outing of their choice.

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“This was a once in a lifetime experience and we’re over the moon at winning. We were very nervous but very excited,” said Natalie Farag, age 11, from the winning Allerton Primary School group.

“I was impressed by the enthusiasm and ingenuity of all the groups and while we ended up with an overall winner, the other two projects were too good not to take forward as well,” said Diane Groom.

Pupils from Mill Field Primary School came up with the idea of a board game, delivering key messages about sustainable travel. Brodetsky Primary School delivered creative a pitch that featured a rap. Metro will be working with them to produce a creative jingle for a forthcoming campaign.

Coun Lewis said: “This wasn’t just an exercise for a rainy Monday afternoon. We are going to work with these pupils to develop their excellent ideas and put them into practice improving the environment of their city.”