School Streets

Update on the St James’ Church of England School Street and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Street

School Streets create safer spaces around schools by reducing the number of motor vehicles near to the school gate. The decision to introduce the School Streets at St James’ Church of England School Street and St Mary’s Catholic Primary was made following a period of statutory consultation held in May 2022.

It was intended that these School Streets would be operated manually with gates and marshals, and both have been constructed to this design. Regrettably, it has not been possible to recruit the number of marshals required to operate the schemes safely.

The Council along with each school remain committed to creating a safer environment for everyone by implementing the School Streets at St James’ Church of England Primary School and St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Street. Given the challenges mentioned above, it has been decided to enforce these School Streets using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. It was always the intention that ANPR cameras would be used in the future. Please note that this is not a change to the traffic order, zone of operation or times of operation for each School Street, but the method in which the Council enforces the timed closure.

Some more works will be required to install the ANPR cameras. Residents have been informed of this change, and will receive further information regarding the upcoming works and when the cameras will become operational. Residents have also been notified about exemptions and how to apply if they are eligible. Dial-a-ride and emergency services vehicles will be able to access the School Street zone at all times.

Following the public consultation, we will be starting works to improve the School Street at George Spicer Primary School. A copy of the report on the consultation can be found in the Documents section on the main page. The George Spicer Primary School Folder contains copies of the associated letters.

You may have seen over the six weeks holidays work has started on the delivery of School Streets at the following locations. We are working hard to finalize the projects and will be in touch with residents, businesses and the school community regarding exemptions (including when they will be available and how to apply) and when the schemes will be coming into operation soon.

1. St Mary's Catholic Primary School
2. St James Church of England Primary School
3. Wilbury Primary School
4. Houndsfield Primary School
5. Hazelwood Primary School
6. Bowes Primary School

Following the public consultation a report has been published and the decision taken to implement School Streets at the following Schools.

• Bowes Primary School
• Houndsfield Primary School
• St Mary’s Catholic Primary School
• Hazelwood Primary School
• St James Church of England Primary School
• Wilbury Primary School

The report and summary of responses to representations and objections can be found in the documents section on the main project page

A public consultation is now underway for the proposed improvements to the George Spicer School Street. The survey can be found on the main project page along with the link to the draft traffic orders. The consultation window closes 14th August 2022

Following the successful implementation of 14 School Streets across the borough Enfield Council are expanding the initiative to more schools and are proposing School Streets at the following locations and times:

Please refer to the maps for the proposed design for each of the School Streets listed above, along with the proposed traffic order. Both can be found in the Document Library.

A ‘School Street’ is an area transformed into a pedestrian and cycling zone operating Monday to Friday during the school term, during set times at drop-off and pick-up times. School Streets aim to:

• ensure the safety of school students as they arrive to and leave school,
• improve the air quality near the school, and
• encourage more young people to walk and cycle to school.

When the School Street zone is in operation during the designated hours, motor vehicles cannot pass through the zone, except for those who have received a permit and are exempt. Those who are eligible for exemptions include:

• residents who live within the zone,
• Blue Badge holders requiring access to the school (for example parents who hold a Blue Badge for a pupil),
• school staff who have been provided a permit by the school administration under exceptional circumstances,
• businesses who operate within the zone, and
• emergency services.

Further information on School Streets and how they operate can be found at https://letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/schoolstreets.

Share your views

In partnership with the schools listed above, Enfield Council is proposing the implementation of School Streets as shown in the maps and detailed in the proposed traffic order found the Document Library.

We invite residents, businesses, parents, school staff and any other interested stakeholders to take part in the statutory consultation by Sunday 19 June 2022. Please make your representation or objection in writing stating the grounds on which it is being made and quoting the reference TG1500 no later than 11.59pm on Sunday 19 June 2022. You can write to us in any of the following ways:

• via the survey at https://letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/SchoolStreets
• by email to healthystreets@enfield.gov.uk, or
• in writing to Healthy Streets, Enfield Council, Silver Street, Enfield, EN13XA.

All comments received during the consultation will be considered. We are not able to respond to individual comments, however a report that summarises the findings of the consultation will be published in due course.

A decision to implement a further ten school streets in Enfield has been published regarding the School Streets Project and can be found here. The decision is subject to call-in as per the councils scrutiny process, more information on this can be found here. Check out the video announcing the group of schools we are currently working with here.

A report on the proposed continuation of School Streets Initiative has been prepared. The report and its recommendations has now been published and is available here. The report is still under consideration with a decision anticipated shortly.

In November 2021 the Council, in partnership with 12 primary schools in the borough, successfully made the School Streets trialled from 2020 permanent. This is part of the Council’s Healthy Streets approach, working to create cleaner, greener and safer streets and promoting sustainable and active travel.

We have worked with schools to introduce Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera enforcement to assist with safety in the School Street walking and cycling zone. This also removes the necessity for staff and volunteers to marshal the gates.

During the COVID-19 pandemic many of the worlds supply chains were and continue to be impacted by staff and materials shortages. This has had significant impacts on many of the Council's core suppliers, including delays to the provision of cameras and lamp columns for these School Streets.

We have now scheduled the installation of cameras at the remaining locations and set anticipated start dates for all schemes. We will continue to write to all residents and businesses in the immediate area to inform them of the progress towards enforcement cameras going live. Exemption applications to enable access for residents and businesses can continue to be made on line via the parking pages:

• Online: https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/parking/parking-permits-rb/
• Phone: 020 3856 0036
• Email: Parking@enfield.gov.uk

Parents and carers who are blue badge holders and require specific access to the school during the hours of operation for the purpose of collecting or dropping off a child should contact the school administration via the school office who will process their application for an exemption.

There is no charge for School Street exemptions.

Below is the programme for activating enforcement cameras at the following schools:

Many thanks for sharing you views and feedback regarding the school street scheme. All of your comments and thoughts have proven extremely valuable. Our intention when making any proposals is to gain the support and feedback of the local community.

When proposing any scheme the Council considers the benefits and disbenefits associated with any proposal. After due care and consideration a decision has been to make the school streets schemes permanent. The reports can be viewed via the links below.

• https://governance.enfield.gov.uk/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=58726&optionId=0

• https://governance.enfield.gov.uk/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=SD4147&ID=4147&sch=doc

We will communicate this decision via letters to the local area, via parents letter distributed by the schools and via email to all that corresponded with the council.

Next steps:

Over the coming months we will continue to work with schools to refine the operation of all schemes locally. This will include migrating all schemes from a marshalled gate operated process to camera enforced timed pedestrian and cycling zones.

We will continue to update our engagement page with details of this progress here: https://letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/schoolstreets

For further information on permitting please visit the parking pages here: https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/parking/