About School Streets in Waltham Forest

About School Streets in Waltham Forest

What is a School Street?

A School Street is an initiative to create safer streets for everyone by reducing traffic and improving local air quality. School Streets involve temporarily closing one or more roads surrounding a school to most vehicles for a short period at the start and end of the school day.

What are the benefits of a School Street?

Based on the data collected from the current School Streets in Waltham Forest, restricting vehicle movements around these schools at the start and end of the school day should have the following benefits for the school community and local residents:

Improved road safety for all road users;

A reduction in anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous vehicle movements;

Fewer vehicles on the school run, which will reduce traffic and make it easier for pupils, parents, carers and staff to walk, kick-scoot and cycle to school;

Improved air quality around the school gates due to reduced vehicle idling.

Why are these School Streets being introduced?

The School Street, which has been requested by the school community, will provide much needed space for walking, cycling, kick-scooting and social-distancing when pupils, parents and guardians are travelling to school.

There is an even more urgent need to improve London’s streets for walking and cycling, and reduce pressure on our road and public transport networks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With London’s public transport capacity currently significantly reduced, millions of journeys a day could be completed by other modes of transport. If even a small fraction of these are replaced by car journeys, roads will become heavily congested, air quality will worsen, and road danger will increase. In some places we are already seeing traffic levels increase above pre COVID-19 levels.

How many School Streets are there in Waltham Forest?

There are 15 School Streets in Waltham Forest including these five new trial schemes which will be launched on Monday 19 April 2021. To find out more about the current 10 School Streets, please visit the Waltham Forest Council School Streets webpage .

Which roads will be affected and when?

Each School Street has its own set of roads and timings, however all will operate Monday to Friday, term-time only. For details of these, please select the individual scheme page.

Road signs will be displayed at all entry and exit points to the pedestrian and cycle zone advising of the restrictions. The restrictions will be supported by legal Traffic Management Orders and any vehicles that are not exempt will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). The cost of the PCN will be £130, which will be reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days.

Who will be exempt from the restriction?

Residents living within the School Streets zone;

Registered carers for residents living within the School Street zone who notify the Council of their vehicle’s details;

Businesses and their staff located within the School Street zone who notify the Council of their vehicle’s details;

School staff accessing the school car park or using a valid parking permit;

Blue Badge holders that require access to an address within the School Streets zone (this can apply for the holder, or for a third party on behalf of the holder). The Blue Badge holder must contact the Council using the contact details below to arrange their exemption in advance;

Emergency services;

Vehicles providing transport to medical appointments;

Volunteers delivering food/medical supplies to residents who are shielding/self-isolating due to COVID-19;

Dial-a-Ride and Community Transport services;

Royal Mail vehicles;

Council waste services;

Trades vehicles who are providing a service to a property or business within the School Streets zone. The resident or tradesperson must contact us in advance to provide the vehicle registration and approximate duration of works so that a temporary exemption can be arranged;

Any vehicle already parked in the closure area when the restriction commences will be able to leave without penalty.

Parents of pupils at the school, visitors, deliveries and general through traffic will not be exempt from the restriction.

How do I apply for an exemption or permit?

For details on how to apply for an exemption of permit please visit the Waltham Forest Council School Streets webpage .