Frequently asked questions

The School Street programme aims to create safer and quieter space near to the school gate, by restricting the majority of motor vehicles from entering the road at the school drop off and pick up times. This programme helps to encourage parents and children to make the school journey safely on foot, on a scooter or by bicycle as part of a regular routine and form a part of daily exercise.

We are delivering a series of School Streets in the borough. To date 39 schools have measures to reduce traffic on the roads near to the school gates.. The next phase of School Streets are now being implemented, with a further 9 School Streets being introduced this term.

We have provided some questions and answers on this programme of work below.

A School Street is an area outside the school entrance(s) that restricts the majority of motor vehicle traffic, enforced either through physical barriers such as bollards, or by cameras. Traffic on the school street is limited to those motor vehicles with an exemption permit. The School Street allows parents, carers and pupils, as well as other pedestrians and cyclists passing by, to enjoy a safer and more comfortable space at pick up and drop off times during term time. It seeks to keep traffic in the immediate area to an absolute minimum. The aim of the scheme is to tackle congestion, improve air quality at the school gates, make it easier and safer to walk and cycle to school.

There are various ways a School Street can be managed, this will depend on the type of road, the number of residential properties, and whether the road is on a bus route or on the emergency services priority route network.

School Street closure using a physical barrier - A timed physical closure using a bollard or gate to close the road to motorised traffic. The road will be closed using a barrier which will be in place during the closure times by school staff or school volunteers. Traffic will not be able to enter or leave the street at these times. Access for emergency service vehicles or other exemptions is maintained with school staff remaining available during the restriction times if urgent access is required.

School Street restriction using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera - A timed restriction enforced by cameras to limit motor vehicles from entering the school street zone. Motor vehicles without an exemption will be restricted from entering the road during the times shown on the signs. Residents who live within the zone, emergency services, buses and those who have been granted an exemption permit are permitted to enter the school Street. Any vehicles not permitted to be in the school street will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Enforcement is carried out by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera during the hours of operation.

School restriction using One Way Plug and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera - A combination of a timed restriction and a short section of road made one way only. The camera restricts access in to the School Street at the times shown and the one way section is opertaional at all times. The camera will restrict motor vehicles from entering the road during the restricted times, with the exception of those who have been granted an exemption permit. Any vehicles not permitted to be in the school street will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Enforcement is carried out by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera during the hours of operation.

Although camera enforced School Streets significantly reduce the number of vehicles that drive past a school, they do not physically stop all vehicles. It is important to stay aware of traffic on School Streets as some vehicles will have permits and be able to use the road legally and some drivers may ignore the restrictions.

Although the road will be far quieter, staying aware of road dangers and reminding children of road safety rules is still very important.

School Streets will operate during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times on weekdays, school term time only. School term time dates are shown on the Lewisham website - https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/education/schools/term-dates

The restrictions are generally an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, however some School Streets may operate for a slightly longer period due to the location and/or the school times. Outside of the restricted times, vehicles can use the road as normal, other than any measures that are unable to be timed, such as one-way roads, no entry ‘plugs’, width restrictions or weight limits etc.

Pedestrian and Cycle ZONE signs will show the restriction area. The operational times are shown on the signs at each School Street. Each School Street has an Exemption Permit identifier (eg SS21) only vehicles with the correct permit are allowed to enter the zone during the restricted times. The School Street Zone signs are open when the School Street is in force during the Lewisham School Term dates. When the ZONE signs are open the School Street will be enforced.

Blue Advanced Warning Signs will be sited on the approach to the School Street Zone.

You may apply for an exemption if you

• are a resident who lives within the closure zone and can provide the required evidence to demonstrate this,

• hold a Blue Badge and you are employed by the school,

• hold a Blue Badge as either a parent/carer or your child holds a Blue Badge and attends the school,

• Special Educational Needs (SEN) Transport vehicles, including SEN cabs/taxis attending the school in question or collecting or dropping off a child who lives within the restriction.

All other requests for an exemption will be considered on a case by case basis.

Emergency service vehicles, Buses and Refuse Vehicles are automatically exempt.

A letter will be sent to all those living/operating within the School Street zone explaining what documents they need to provide to show proof of residence/business and vehicle ownership a few weeks before the restrictions are enforced. For more information please visit https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking/schoolstreets/exemptpersons

Exemptions are School Street specific and NOT applicable for all School Streets in the borough. Every School Street will have a School Street Identifier such as SS28.

A vehicle parked within a camera enforced School Street will be able to remain parked subject to any other parking restrictions. Vehicles are able to leave the restricted area at any time. The School Street restricts entry into the zone only.

If a vehicle is parked within a School Street enforced by barriers they will not be able to leave until the end of the timed restriction.

We do ask that any vehicle movement is kept to a minimum as children may not expect to see vehicles moving in the School Street.

School Streets enforced by an ANPR camera enforces all vehicles without an exemption. If a driver enters the zone during the time of opertaion they will be sent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

School Streets enforced by barrier will restrict entry and exit during the restricted period. Any vehicle returning will need to park outside of the zone until the road reopens.

Visitors should arrive before or after the restricted time. If they arrive during the operational times they may need to park elsewhere and move their vehicle once the restriction has ended. Visitors may remain parked in the zone – as long as there are no other parking controls at the location or they have the required permit to park there.

Deliveries are expected to be made outside of the hours of the school street.

Vehicles are only restricted from entering the zone at the displayed times, if they are parked within the school street, they are able to drive out in order to leave the area at any time.

For the safety of all pupils removing the majority of vehicles from using the road at the times children are walking or cycling to school will help to create a safer environment.

If you are a Blue Badge holder and live within a School Street zone please go to https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking/schoolstreets for more information. A Blue Badge holder can apply for an exemption if they are a parent/carer of a child at the school, a child attending the school hold a blue badge or they work at the school. Blue Badge holders do not have an automatic exemption, please do contact us if you have any questions regartding this- schoolstreets@lewisham.gov.uk

If parents or carers travel to school by motor vehicle they will be expected to safely park away from the School Street, keeping the area near the school clear of traffic.

If you or your child hold a Blue Badge and attends the school within the School Street in question, please go to https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking/schoolstreet for more information.

No, all school staff must arrive before or after the hours of operation.

If you are a member of staff and hold a Blue Badge please go to https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/parking/schoolstreets for more information.

School Streets allow access for emergency services at all times.

Where a School Street is managed by a barrier the barrier will be lightweight and easy to move in case of emergency.

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) will be issued to all vehicles entering the camera enforced School Street during the hours shown on the School Street signs without an valid exemption permit. There will be a discount for early payment.

The first phase of School Streets were introduced in response to the COVID pandemic under an Emergency Temporary Traffic Order (ETTO). An ETTO allows a restriction to be in place for up to 18 months. These School Streets will now be advertised under an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO)

Schools Streets being implemented from September 2021 will be made under an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO).

An ETO may be in force for up to 18 months. The 18 month period forms a statutory consultation and monitoring period, time to analyse the findings, followed by a period of time to make changes to the scheme. Once this has been collated it will be considered in the context of the Council’s wider transport programme and will take in to account any revised TfL guidance on the use of Local Implementation Plan funding.

The views of all road users and interested parties will also be captured on the commonplace platform. Data on children’s existing modes of travel to school and any changes in patterns as a result of the scheme will be assessed through the School Travel Plan process. Additional data collection including traffic counts, speed surveys, air quality and safety statistics will taken in to account during this period to help to evaluate how the scheme has operated and whether the measures should be made permanent. The review will also look at any issues arising on the roads surrounding the School Streets.

It can be difficult to accurately show any improvements to air quality as a direct result of the School Street. This is due to the short period of time the road is closed to motorised traffic.

However, the effectiveness of School Street can be monitored by obtaining data prior to the introduction of the school street and comparing it to data collected after the intervention. This will include levels of nitrogen dioxide and/or other pollutants during school drop off and pick up times.

Residents and businesses within the immediate vicinity of any measures will be notified by letter in advance of the measures being implemented.

We will work closely with the schools in the lead up to the new term to communicate the plans to parents.

The cameras are focused on the entry point of the School Street. They only record the vehicles passing through the boundary of the School Street. An assessment is carried out to ensure that the camera and data capture conforms to GDPR guidelines.

You may contact the team at schoolstreets@lewisham.gov.uk with any further questions.

Alternatively you can write to the team –Strategic Transport, 4th Floor, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU.

If an urgent issue arises, please contact the council switch board on 020 8314 6000

Further School Streets will be considered as and when further funding becomes available.