Oxfordshire's school streets programme set to continue

The school streets trial at five primary schools in the county will continue with the cameras from today, November 29.

Oxfordshire County Council has been trialling school streets during the 2023/24 school year.

It saw timed road closures with volunteers operating pop-up gates close to school entrances at start and finish times.

The aim is to reduce the volume of traffic during drop-off and pick-up times to create a safer environment for children, parents, and teachers to walk or cycle to school.

Manor Primary School in Didcot and Tyndale Community, St Mary and St John Church of England, Sandhills Community, and New Hinksey Church of England primary schools in Oxford have been trialling school streets during 2024.

Councillor Andrew Gant, the county council's cabinet member for transport management, said: "It is fantastic news that school streets have made such a positive difference to school start and finish for these schools.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport management (Image: Ed Nix) "These are two of the busiest times of the day for schools and for families – filled with hustle and bustle, trying to remember and coordinate everything with multiple time pressures to meet.

"The school street creates a quieter road that provides a calmer and more welcoming environment where children and their families and carers can socialise and enjoy the moment helping set them up for a brighter rest of day."

The formal decision to install ANPR cameras as the next progression of the school streets trial was made at the county council’s cabinet member meeting on September 5.

ANPR cameras have been installed at the school street entry points over recent weeks to help operate the scheme consistently without reliance on a volunteer team.

The cameras will operate only during set school drop-off and pick-up times, on school days only, and will cover only the entry point.

Blue badge holders and residents near the school gates can still drive through during these times should they need to.

Residents and businesses in the school street locations have received letters on how to apply for their vehicle exemptions and when their school street ANPR cameras will become operational.

The county council’s school street webpages also provide a full of list of exempt vehicles - which includes residents, local businesses, blue badge holders, and carers - and details on how to register an exemption.

The county council said it welcomes interest from more schools in trialling a school street.