Purpose

1. The government has provided allocations to local transport authorities from an Active Travel Fund (ATF).This is grant funding which supports authorities with producing cycling and walking facilities and promoting active travel through various interventions, the funding is in separate tranches and includes provision for School Streets.
2. A School Street is a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times. The restriction applies to school traffic and through traffic. Residents and businesses with premises in a School Street are still able to access these roads by car during the restrictions along with emergency vehicles and blue badge holders.
3. As part of tranche 4 of the ATF funding was allocated for School Streets at The Academy at St James and Horton Park primary schools.
The schemes on Chelwood Drive (The Academy at St James) and Dawnay Road (Horton Park) were initially implemented on an experimental basis for 18 months, in the form of Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO’s).
4. As the ETRO’s have now been in place for nearly 18 months, they are due to expire in September 2025; both schools have requested that their School Streets be converted to permanent installations.
5. A variety of stakeholders have been consulted, either directly or via street notices and press publications. The Emergency Services and Council’s waste services have not expressed any concerns. Ward members have been consulted. No adverse comments have been received

Decision

(1) That the Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders for School Streets closures on Chelwood Drive and Dawnay Road be made permanent and the Traffic Regulation Orders be made, sealed and implemented