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School Streets 

What is a 'School Street'?

A School Street is a special area outside a school where motorised vehicles are not allowed during school start and end times, unless the drivers have an exemption. This makes it safer and easier for children to walk, wheel, or scoot to and from school. 

The goal of a School Street is to create a safe, friendly, and enjoyable environment around the school for children. It also makes sure that people who need to get into the area can still do so when necessary.  

Each School Street is organised in a way that fits the needs of the school and the local community. In most cases, a School Street consists of a traffic regulation order and related signage, making the road(s) outside the school open to walking, wheeling and cycling at drop-off and pick-up times during school terms.

Residents and businesses within the zone, as well as special groups (like blue badge holders and emergency vehicles) can be granted an exemption.

School Streets’ objectives

  • Reduce motorised traffic and parking pressures outside schools
  • Make the streets outside schools safer at the start and end of the day
  • Discourage car journeys to school and enable safe walking and cycling
  • Create a more pleasant environment for everyone

Consultation with residents and local businesses

School Streets are implemented on a trial basis using an Experimental Traffic Order to enable all aspects of the scheme to be considered, including comments from residents, local businesses and the school before a decision is made on whether to make the scheme permanent.

We will engage with residents living around any School Street scheme and school parents in advance of any trials being implemented.

The consultation remains open while the Experimental Traffic Order is in place during the trial period of 12 to 18 months. 

Car users

The goal of the School Street is to make going to school safer, healthier, and more enjoyable for everyone, including children and the local community. It is not meant to punish parents. 

If parents need to drive to school, they can still park a little further away. We believe this is a fair solution that focuses on keeping children safe and healthy, while still allowing important access to the area when needed.

School Streets in Salford

In Salford, we will begin our first School Streets trials in Spring of 2026 at the following schools:

  • Peel Hall Primary School
  • Monton Green Primary School
  • Grosvenor Road Primary School

How are schools selected?

Salford City Council’s officers assess schools based on accident reports, the type of nearby roads, how many homes and businesses are in the area, number of required closures, if there are other parking options, complaints from the public, and how much the school supports the changes. 

Information for residents and parents

Many schools and nearby streets have traffic problems during the busy times when children go to and from school. Lots of people driving and parking can make children and their families feel unsafe when walking, wheeling, or scooting. 

Walking and scooting are much more fun for kids. We want to make getting to school safer and more enjoyable for everyone in the community who wants to be more active. School Streets address these issues by restricting motorised vehicle access in the streets surrounding some schools at drop off and pick up times.

On these streets, during certain times in the morning and afternoon, drivers are not allowed to drive through, usually for up to an hour, unless they have an exemption. Clear signs at the entrance let people know about these rules. 

Parents and others who feel they need to drive are asked to legally park nearby and walk the last part of their journey, at least a 10 minutes’ walk away.

Because school start and end times can be different, the times will change depending on the school. The signs will show the exact times for each school, and information about these changes will be shared locally. 

Operating hours

The operating times for the restrictions change depending on when the school day begins and ends. We agree on these times with each school we work with. 

Usually, the restrictions are in place for up to 60 minutes during the mornings and afternoons when parents drop off or pick up students. 

The restrictions are not in effect during school holidays or on weekends.

How are School Streets enforced?

School Street areas are equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Vehicles entering the enforcement zone without a permit will be identified by the camera and drivers served a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

The school street has not been designed with punitive measures in mind. As such, the first time a driver without an exemption drives into the school street, they will get a warning letter. If you qualify for an exemption and have received a warning letter, you will get 14 days to apply for an exemption. You will not be fined in the meantime.

A warning letter will only be issued in the first six months of the go-live date of the scheme. After six months, the first time a driver without an exemption comes into the school street, a PCN will be issued.

How much is the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)

The PCN is £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

Exemptions

People walking, scooting, using wheelchairs, mobility scooters and cycles (including adapted cycles) can use the School Street without restrictions.

All other motor vehicles are restricted during the operating times displayed on the signs, subject to some exemptions.

We encourage everyone to support the School Street, where they are able to walk or cycle, or avoid using the street during the times of operation.

The following motorised vehicles are automatically exempt:

  • Residents and businesses within the School Street zone (with valid permits)
  • School staff
  • Blue Badge holders accessing a destination within the zone
  • Children with SEN needs
  • Registered carers and healthcare professionals 
  • Emergency service vehicles
  • Utility companies attending emergency works (e.g. gas, water, electricity)
  • School buses and public transport

All other unauthorised motor vehicles entering the zone during restriction periods will be subject to enforcement action.

Applying for a permit

Once the Traffic Regulation Order is in place, the affected residents will get a letter explaining how they can request a permit. Each residential property within the school street will be able to apply for two permits per household for the school street.

If you have essential needs such as a regular carer there will be an opportunity to apply for an additional permit, if required.

Parents, teachers or contractors providing services to the school should contact the relevant school administration team directly to discuss their access needs during the School Streets operational hours. 

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