School Streets to Be Introduced at Half Borough's Primaries
Traffic restrictions would apply at pick up and drop off
Children and parents outside Granard School in Putney
Half of the primary schools in a Wandsworth borough could see roads in their vicinity closed to traffic at pick-up and drop-off times by 2025.
Drivers without exemptions face £130 fines if they enter school streets where restrictions are enforced by cameras and barriers. The council has already implemented 19 school streets, serving 20 schools, under the first two phases of the school streets programme.
Barriers block cars from some school streets in the borough, while others have ANPR cameras to catch drivers breaking the rules. The fine will be slashed by half if paid in 14 days.
Council officers are consulting with schools for the third phase and recruiting more for the fourth. It hasn’t yet been decided whether these extra school streets will be enforced by cameras, which cost up to £50,000 to implement each time – compared to £10,000 for manual interventions.
A fresh council report says the scheme is progressing “in line” with the authority’s target of half of primary schools being included in the programme by 2025. The council’s transport committee approved the report’s recommendations on 3 November to progress the implementation of the extra school streets, which will be voted on by the executive later this month.
The programme is part of the council’s new travel plans to promote walking and cycling, which include focussing on pedestrian safety and improving pavements.
Labour councillor Clare Fraser, cabinet member for transport, said the authority wants to “radically increase” journeys made on foot, by bicycle and on public transport.
She said: “Reducing unnecessary car usage will have significant benefits for people’s health and wellbeing and help raise air quality standards. And in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis where family finances are under severe pressure, choosing to travel on foot or by bike can offer big savings to residents. This package of measures is just the beginning. We are committed to tackling congestion, improving air quality and making our roads and streets safer for all.”
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said: “It’s fantastic to see great boroughs like Wandsworth taking bold action to deliver these greener and more sustainable transport options for residents. The Mayor and I are determined to continue building a safer, fairer, greener and more prosperous London for everyone and we will continue to support Wandsworth’s efforts to make it easier for people to cycle and walk around the borough.”
Charlotte Lillywhite - Local Democracy Reporter
November 9, 2022