School Streets are where vehicular access is temporarily restricted specifically between school drop off and pick up times during term time. School Streets encourage walking, scooting or cycling and reduce congestion outside school.
How a School Street works
School Streets are operated using moveable barriers to restrict vehicles from entering a specific street or a section of the street around a participating school, which will temporarily restrict non-essential motor vehicle access at set times in the morning and afternoon. These barriers are staffed by trained marshals which are either school staff or volunteers organised and managed by the school.
Vehicles will not be allowed entry to the street during the operating times unless they are exempt. A Traffic Management Order (TMO) will be put in place, which allows the road to be temporarily closed by law. As a legal document, TMOs help us manage the highway network for all road users, improving safety and access.
Signs and barriers at the entrances to the School Street will inform drivers of the restriction. Advanced warning signs are installed where needed. Marshals at the barriers will ask drivers to provide a valid permit to access the street and will only allow authorised vehicles to enter.
A School Street will generally operate Monday to Friday term-time only. The operating times will depend on the school and timed to align with when pupils arrive and leave school. Restrictions will be in place for approximately 30 to 60 minutes in the morning and 30 to 60 minutes in the afternoon.
Benefits of School Streets
The main aim of a School Street is to reduce the amount of traffic on streets around a school. There are many benefits for everyone, including
- Increases walking, scooting, cycling and active lifestyles for pupils and parents/carers
- Active travel increases road safety awareness
- Air quality is improved due the reduction in vehicular traffic
- Reduces congestion around schools at peak times to enable social distancing
School Streets locations
The scheme operates at:
- Clare House Primary School
- Poverest Primary School
- Hayes Primary School
We will continue to support existing schools with a School Street. If you are a school, are interested in a School Street and have the necessary people to operate the barriers both AM and PM, please contact us directly. Please note, as School Streets are school led, we can only investigate requests from schools.
Due to operational restraints, no School Street will be installed in the borough unless the school is prepared to organise and operate them through the use of temporary, staffed barriers.
Questions and answers about School Streets
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN's)
The council will not approve LTNs with local roads blocked off and traffic diverted onto other roads.