Parents and pupils can enjoy a smoother school run from October, as a second phase of ‘School Streets’ are introduced in Wandsworth.

In October, eleven more roads will be closed to traffic on mornings and afternoons outside school entrances.

Wandsworth Council says the plan will make pick-up and drop-off safer and quieter, and air quality will be improved. 

The new School Streets will come into effect at Broadwater, Sellincourt and Shaftesbury Park primaries next Monday (October 5). 

On October 12, they will be implemented 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 beginning to look at future potential sites, including Beatrix Potter.

Temporary barriers are used to divert traffic along with signs warning drivers that they cannot enter these streets. Longer-term, the schemes could be enforced with cameras and/or retractable bollards.

Cabinet member for transport Cllr John Locker said:

“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.”

So far, the response from parents has been largely postive. Local dad and cleaner air advocate, David Smith, tweeted that watching the barriers go up was one of his “favourite moments of day.”

 

 

Mr Smith told the Wandsworth Times:

“Schools Streets reallocate space from cars to people, enabling social distancing and encouraging active travel. The absence of vehicles on the road directly outside schools improves safety and reduces children’s air pollution exposure.”

However, he added that more could be done:

“Every child deserves a school street. 11 out of 62 schools [that have them] primary and no action for secondary schools in Wandsworth is simply not good enough.

“The most polluted schools are on main roads that will not be closed for school streets. We need urgent action to protect these children who are more likely to have asthma and are at risk from up to 13% reduced lung capacity,” said Mr Smith.

Exemptions to the School Streets include residents who live and work on the road and Blue Badge holders.

Vehicles already parked there before the School Street hours can also leave without being penalised or impeded.

The schemes do not operate in the school holidays or at weekends.