News on Elderslie For Everyone

Healthy Streets Survey - What did we do?

The Eco Committee and Junior Road Safety Officers at Wallace Primary School conducted a ‘healthy streets survey’ to let us know their thoughts and suggestions for Elderslie Main Road and public spaces.

In February, Sustrans’ engagement officers took 44 pupils on a walk along the project area, stopping at three locations (the green space opposite Nisa, Glenpatrick Road junction and Stoddard Square). At each location we discussed and rated the street and public space against some of the healthy street indicators, as well as asking ‘what would you like to see here?’.

What is a healthy streets survey?

The healthy streets survey asks people how they perceive a street, against a number of indicators. These indicators are what makes streets appealing, healthy and inclusive places. We looked at things such as safety, places to sit, shelter or things to see and do in the area.       

The 10 Healthy Streets Indicators © Lucy Saunders

What did we find out?

Overall, the healthy street survey showed that the children felt that the crossing was unsafe, there were not enough places to sit and shelter and not many things to see or do. The children were happy with the amount of plants and trees along Main Road, felt most safe at Stoddard Square and appreciated the amount of seating there. 

The Green Space Opposite Nisa

The main things that the children were unhappy about here was the lack of places to shelter, the safety of crossing the road and that there was not many things to see or do. The children liked the amount of plants and trees and felt neutral about the places to sit. The improvements the children suggested for this area were: a playground, exercise equipment, more lights, more flowers, shelter over the benches and a zebra crossing.  

Wallace Primary School pupils at the green space opposite Nisa 

Glenpatrick Road Junction

In this area, the children said it was most difficult to walk and wheel, in particular when crossing the road. They also rated the area negatively in terms of places to sit, shelter and things to see and do. Their suggestions for the area were to add “something that catches your eye”, flowers, shelter and benches.

Healthy Streets Survey worksheet 

Stoddard Square

Stoddard Square was the area the children said they felt most safe in terms of being in the square, however were not very happy about the ease of crossing the road here. They commented on that there were enough places to sit and rest, referring to the picnic benches but would like more shelter. The improvements the children suggested for Stoddard Square were: a shelter, zebra crossing, more plants and “a really big tree”, and more “amusing stuff”.

Wallace Primary School pupils in Stoddard Square with emoji faces to tell us how they feel here

Our Wish for Elderslie

At the end of the workshop, the pupils were asked to write down one thing they would like to see in Elderslie as part of this project. The wordcloud below clearly shows what the children hope to see included in the new designs with benches, shelters, colour and zebra crossings standing out as key elements.

Wallace Primary School pupils wish for Elderslie. 

What's next?

Thank you to all the pupils, teachers and parents helpers who took part in the healthy streets survey. 

This is just the start of the work we will be doing with Wallace Primary School through the Elderslie for Everyone project. These comments will be taken and analysed along with the wider communities comments which will feed into the next stage of the project.