Agenda item

ES20139

The report regarding the Review of Temporary School Streets was presented by the Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking and by LBB’s Road Safety Manager.

The idea of School Streets was to promote the take up of walking to school to reduce pollution and congestion. During the lockdown, the Government introduced money to support social distancing schemes and so some of this money was used for School Streets in order to support social distancing outside of schools. The School Street projects had to be set up during July and August 2020 as the money had to be used by September. Six schools came forward originally and so these were used to initiate a School Street trial. The Hayes School trial was ongoing, as this had only been started in September.

The Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking said that in some ways this was an interim report and officers were looking for guidance as to whether Members felt School Streets were positive or negative--or whether Members felt more information was required.

Councillor Tickner said that in his ward in Beckenham, Clare House School had introduced a School Street; this was running very successfully and was supported by Ward Members. St Mary’s School had applied to join the scheme and he supported the recommendation that they should be allowed to do so. His recommendation was seconded by Councillor Terry.

A Member drew attention to the fact that in some areas, reports had come in of children running out into live traffic and he hoped that measures would be put in place to resolve this. The Road Safety Manager responded and said that she had spoken to Road Safety Officers and they would be doing a safety presentation for any schools that were involved in the School Street trials. The Council would also be making use of Junior Travel Ambassadors. Any new schools that joined the scheme would be required to take part in any appropriate educational programmes or presentations that would promote road safety and awareness. 

A Member asked if residents had been consulted.  The RSM responded and said that the Traffic Orders would end in March 2022 and could not be automatically extended—it was planned that residents would be consulted at that point. A discussion took place as to how drivers could be properly informed with respect to School Streets. The aim was not to be prosecuting drivers but rather to enhance road safety.

A discussion took place as to why it was that some School Streets were successful and others were not—the reasons for this were not always clear. A Member referenced the possible use of ANPR and suggested that officers start looking into the costs for this now.

RESOLVED that:

1) The two existing Temporary School Streets (at Clare House Primary and Poverest Primary) would continue until the end of the summer term in 2022. After this time, the June 2022 PDS Committee would review the pilot scheme at Hayes and then make a decision regarding Borough policy.

2) If School Streets were to continue beyond July 2022, the use of ANPR cameras for some School Street schemes would be required. If this was the case then a costed report on the use of ANPR cameras would be presented to the June PDS meeting.

3) Temporary School Streets would be introduced at Stewart Fleming Primary School and St Mary’s RC Primary School—subject to consultation.