A School Street is a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times. The restriction applies to school traffic and through traffic. The result is a safer, healthier and pleasant environment for everyone.
How do School Streets help?
When a School Street is in operation, the road temporarily becomes a Pedestrian and Cycle Zone, at school drop-off and pick-up times.
By temporarily closing the road to motor vehicles at the start and end of the school day, School Streets help by:
- Reducing traffic outside the school, which reduces emissions and makes the air around the school cleaner at peak times for children.
- Making it safer to walk, cycle, scoot, and wheel to school. Children will benefit from increased physical activity on their journey to and from school.
- Reducing traffic congestion and parking problems outside the school and reducing road danger.
School Street exemptions
If a School Street scheme goes ahead, the following groups would be eligible to apply for an exemption:
- Residents or businesses who have an address within the School Street (see note below).
- Blue Badge holders who require access to the School Street.
- Pupils with a disability that prevents them walking or cycling to school.
- Medical practitioners visiting someone with an address in the School Street.
- School vehicles transporting disabled children.
Note: properties within the boundary of the School Street would be eligible for a resident or business School Street exemption.
Is a School Street permanent?
If a scheme goes ahead, we will use an experimental traffic order and monitor the scheme for 12 months. The locations and times of this will then be reviewed before deciding on a permanent position.
Why are we considering a School Street?
School Street proposals are part of our plan to improve air quality, children’s health, tackle the climate emergency and to make it safer and easier for children to walk and cycle.
School Street consultations
Active School Street consultations can be found on our traffic consultations page.
Further information
Further information about School Streets can be found on the School Streets website