The number of children being driven to school has fallen in the past year - and it is set to decrease further over the next two years.

Barnet Council announced the nine per cent decrease in school traffic on Tuesday.

Council and school initiatives encouraging children to walk to school are credited in part for the drop, together with the implementation by some schools of a travel plan.

The travel plans, a major part of the Government's 2003 Travelling to School Action Plan, are designed to encourage children to get to school by means other than by car.

Initiatives included in the plans are walking buses' and cycle proficiency training.

The Government hopes travel plans will help reduce the school run. It wants all schools to have one by 2010, but London Mayor Ken Livingstone has moved this deadline forward in the capital to 2009.

However, a report released this week by London Assembly's transport committee said so far just over one in three primary schools in the capital have a travel plan, raising doubts that schools will meet Mr Livingstone's deadline.

In Barnet, although only 39 per cent of schools have plans in place, the council believes the school run has already been reduced significantly as result.

It also remains confident all schools will meet the 2009 deadline.

Councillor Matthew Offord, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "This is a priority for the council and we are working hard with schools to help them put travel plans in place and to persuade parents to reduce car journeys.

"Barnet is on track to meet London targets with every school expected to have a travel plan in place in the 2009 academic year."

Transport for London (TfL), which is funding the plans, accused the London Assembly of taking a hostile approach'.

"London is making real advances in tackling the school run," TfL said in a statement.

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