School Streets Trial

School Streets is described as a ‘Revolution at the School Gate’, aimed at bringing communities together to make streets around schools safer and healthier for all, but foremost for our children. This leaflet aims to provide a summary of the scheme alongside the enclosed consultation information for the Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders.

Gloucestershire County Council is committed:

• To giving priority to families choosing to walk, scoot or cycle
• To reducing traffic, congestion and pollution outside schools
• To encouraging an active lifestyle for children and their families
• To creating a safer, cleaner, more pleasant environment for the whole community, encouraging greener travel options.

Here in Gloucestershire, we are launching our own trial in autumn 2020 to explore how street design and removing motorised vehicles can improve safety and the environment around the school gate. The ThinkTravel team at Gloucestershire County Council is partnering with Tewkesbury C of E Primary School and Warden Hill Primary School to create our very first School Streets initiative in Gloucestershire.

The trial

Warden Hill Primary School has been experiencing hazardous parking and congestion near the school gate, causing some road safety issues. The School Streets trial proposes, by way of Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, to legally close the road(s) around the school to most of the traffic at school opening and closing times. The scheme will also introduce parking restrictions in the immediate and near by area to facilitate the School Street and aid safety and traffic flow on access routes. As well as creating a safer environment for those travelling to school on foot or by more sustainable transport means, it is hoped that this trial will further encourage a reduction in numbers of children being driven to school and to improve air quality at peak times.

What is the proposed scheme?

• Durham Close (from its junction with Lincoln Avenue) will be made a pedestrian and cycle only zone Monday – Friday between 8:15am and 9:15am and 2:30pm and 3:30pm.
• Residents who live directly in the affected street (Durham Close) will still have access to their properties during the closure times with a valid permit.
• Other vehicles exempt from the closure include school staff, council and utility vehicles, emergency services and blue badge holders.
• All vehicles that are in the school street when operational will be able to exit.
• Signage will be erected at the entrance to the school street on Durham Close informing drivers of the restrictions.
• The school street will be managed by removable barriers that will be manned by a designated person.
• The trial scheme will begin on 2nd November 2020. 
• The trial can run for up to a maximum of 18 months.
• Before the trial ends, a decision will be made on whether to make the scheme permanent or abandon it, taking all comments received into consideration.

Please also complete our travel survey

Whatever your views about School Streets, as a parent, resident, business or driver, we want to hear from you. Your feedback will help the council to understand travel and transport choices around school times.

The Schools Streets survey will go live on Monday 2nd November 2020 and we invite you to have your say and get involved!
Please visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolstreets to complete the survey online.

Paper versions will also be available by contacting the Integrated Transport Unit on 01452 425233 between 9am – 4pm
Monday to Friday.
You can submit your paper form by handing it in to any council officer visiting the site or by posting to:

ThinkTravel,
Integrated Transport Unit
Gloucestershire County Council
Shire Hall
Westgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 2TH

Permits for residents in Durham Close and school staff can be obtained using the phone and postal details above or by emailing Thinktravel@gloucestershire.gov.uk