CALLS have been made for more children to walk or cycle to school in Wantage to avoid traffic problems as the town’s population grows.

Some 2,500 homes are planned for Grove Airfield and 1,100 more at Crab Hill in east Wantage under Vale of White Horse District Council’s long-term housing plans.

There are concerns that more cars from those 3,600 homes will only make congestion problems in the town worse.

With that in mind, the Wantage Area Schools Partnership is running activities this week to make youngsters and their parents aware of the benefits of walking and cycling.

Primary and secondary schools are giving lessons and assemblies on the environment, health and road safety.

Specialist sports academy King Alfred’s in Portway, Wantage, is among those getting involved.

Headteacher Simon Spiers said it was important to stop parents unnecessarily driving children to school before the new homes brought more traffic.

He added: “Anything we can do to reduce that is good for the environment and children but also good for safety.”

Zoe Patrick, county councillor for Wantage and Grove and a governor at Charlton School, agreed.

She said: “It’s an excellent idea. I really hope lots of children take part. It’s healthy to walk and cycle to school and it also makes them aware and learn about road safety.”

Katie Paxton-Doggett is a parent of three children at Wantage Primary School in Newbury Street.

She said: “The more people can walk and cycle the less traffic we have on our roads and the less pollution we have.

“With more housing coming we can’t have everybody just driving to and from school – particularly over short distances.”

Police took a speed indicator device to Millbrook, Charlton and Wantage primary schools yesterday to show children how they measure the speed of cars.