SCHOOLS in Wiltshire are to receive a total of £86,613 in funding for projects to encourage environmentally friendly travel.

Sixteen schools will receive funding from Wiltshire County Council for their plans to tackle the problems caused by cars on the school run. The schools will be encouraging pupils to walk, cycle, share lifts or catch the bus instead.

An extra three schools may be awarded funding depending on the outcome of bids to the national Cycle Project Fund.

Wiltshire County Council is making funding available to schools to spend on capital projects such as secure parking for bikes and new footpaths and road crossings.

Schools across Wiltshire were asked to develop travel plans last year in order to bid for funds.

Bishops Cannings Primary School, near Devizes, is getting £5,000 to establish a crossing point from the village hall's car park to the school, to encourage parents not to bring their cars down the narrow lane to the school.

In Ramsbury, the primary school is to receive £2,000 for guard rails and other pedestrian access improvements.

St Nicholas School in Bromham will get £5,150 for cycle sheds and lockers. Broad Hinton School is getting £5,000 for three solar-powered flashing school warning lights with associated road lining and bollards.

By far the biggest winner is Clarendon Junior and Infants' School in Tidworth, which has been promised £21,000 for a cycle shelter, a new bus standing area, bus shelters and high kerbs.

Among the reserve schemes, Chirton Primary School, near Devizes, could get new signing, road marking and pedestrian footway improvements worth £1,500 if its Cycle Project Fund bid is approved.

All the projects are linked to the Taking Action on School Journeys initiative to encourage pupils and parents to switch to more environmentally friendly modes of travel to and from school.

Wiltshire County Council's Travelwise manager, William Prendergast, said: "Ensuring that pupils can travel healthily and safely to Wiltshire's schools is essential, and forms an integral part of county council policy.

"It is very encouraging that so many schools are working with the county council to develop plans to help combat congestion and reduce the number of journeys made by private car."

The Taking Action on School Journeys initiative is open to all schools in Wiltshire. Schools will be invited to submit new bids by Christmas for 2004/2005 funding.