Fifteen Shropshire primary schools are to get brand new running tracks made from recycled roads, thanks to the government’s ‘sugar tax’ and to staff from Shropshire Council, WSP and Kier – partners in the Shropshire Highways alliance.

Construction of the first track began at Criftins Primary School near Ellesmere last week, with the remaining 14 tracks due to be completed by the end of March 2019.

The tracks will be constructed from a total of 1,500 tonnes of recycled Shropshire roads. In each case the track will be made of unwanted materials from road maintenance work being carried out close to the school.

Other schools in the area that will benefit from a new running track include Cockshutt CE Primary School and nursery and Kinnerley CE Primary School.

In addition, a number of improvements to each school’s facilities will also be carried out while the tracks are being constructed, including creating/maintaining forest schools, maintaining school gardens, refreshing playgrounds, repairing raised plant beds, and repainting car park markings.

In total, 4000 children are set to benefit from the project, which will enable each child to walk or run a total of 285km in each academic year, at a cost of just £1.30 per pupil per year.

The idea for the tracks came about earlier this year when Shropshire Council received £226,572 from the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund (HPCF) – which is funded through the ‘sugar tax’ grant. Of the total grant, £105,000 was set aside to provide school running tracks – to help children meet the ‘Daily Mile challenge’ to walk or run a mile every day.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “It’s brilliant that our partners WSP and Kier are donating time and materials to aid children’s fitness. I want to thank them for helping to make these running tracks a reality.”

Nick Bardsley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children’s services, added: “The schools who will be receiving the tracks have positively embraced the project and are looking forward to realising and assessing the health and educational learning benefits they will bring for their pupils, both in terms of physical and mental well-being.”