Several schools in the South Bank area will close early on Friday afternoon to mitigate anticipated traffic congestion and transport disruption associated with a local funeral. The funeral is for one of five young men who died in a crash involving a police car on the A66.
Superintendent John Wrintmore of Cleveland Police stated that traffic disruption and delays are possible between 15:00 and 17:00 on Friday. The affected areas include South Bank, Normanby Road through Teesville, Ormesby and Marton, and Acklam Road. Police are collaborating with local authority highways departments, who are managing traffic for the event, to minimize disruption.
Plans are in place to ensure public safety and security during the gathering, consistent with usual procedures. A spokesperson for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council confirmed the early school closures were decided after careful consideration of the potential impact on home-to-school transport and the departure of pupils, staff, and families at the end of the school day.
Schools have coordinated with the local authority and transport providers to arrange for pupils, including those attending specialist educational settings. The council acknowledged that the early closure might cause inconvenience for some parents and carers and expressed gratitude for their understanding and cooperation.