School Streets Programme Extended Across the Borough
More traffic restrictions being implemented around local primaries
Wandsworth Council are ramping up their School Streets programme which has seen a range of traffic restrictions introduced around local schools.
The aim of the schemes is to allow parents and pupils at more schools to enjoy traffic-free drop-offs and pick-ups outside the school gates.
In the next phase between now and the middle of October, eleven School Street schemes will be introduced across the borough.
The initiative sees the roads containing school entrances closed to vehicle traffic when pupils arrive in the mornings and leave in the afternoons.
Temporary barriers are being used initially along with signs warning drivers that they cannot enter these streets placed prominently on all approaches. Over the longer-term the schemes could be enforced with cameras and/or retractable bollards.
Residents and businesses who live and work on a School Street are given access as are Blue Badge holders. Vehicles already parked there before the hours of operation come into effect can also leave without being penalised or impeded. The schemes do not operate in the school holidays or at weekends.
School Streets came into effect at Allfarthing on Monday, 28 September, while similar schemes will be unveiled at Broadwater, Sellincourt and Shaftesbury Park primaries the following Monday (5 October).
The next phase, scheduled for 12 October, will see the scheme go live at Belleville Wix, Falconbrook, Granard, Honeywell, St Anselms, Sacred Heart (Battersea) and Westbridge. The council is currently working with three other schools to finalise their schemes and engineers are also now beginning to look at future potential sites, including Beatrix Potter which was the scene of a collision recently in which parents and children were injured.
The council’s education spokesman Cllr Will Sweet said, “It’s great news for children’s safety to make roads calmer, quieter and less congested outside our schools.
“Introducing School Streets should create a much safer and healthier environment for children and their parents on their journeys to and from school.”
And cabinet member for transport Cllr John Locker added, “Reducing the impact of vehicle traffic and encouraging parents and children to walk or cycle to school are key priorities for the council.
“As well as no passing traffic there will be a total reduction in vehicle idling outside school entrances, which will be a major benefit to the children. It should really improve air quality around these schools.”
School streets are already in place at Albemarle, Hotham, Our Lady of Victories, Hillbrook, Penwortham, Earlsfield, and Furzedown.
September 30, 2020