I find myself questioning Greenwich Council’s proposal to use cameras to restrict the ability of vehicles to access roads around schools at pick-up and drop-off times as this will completely change the way in which existing School Streets function.
Greenwich Council plans to convert 15 existing schemes over to camera usage and introduce 21 new ones meaning drivers will be fined if their vehicles go onto certain roads near schools at fixed times, however, they have given no details for any individual scheme. The existing schemes are supposed to close roads between 8- 9.30am in the morning and 3-4pm in the afternoon however, Eltham Conservatives have established that 2 of the 4 existing permanent schemes are not longer functioning.
What review has been carried out of the existing schemes?
The consultation fails to mention that at both De Lucy and Gordon Primary Schools the fixed bollards which were installed in the streets were so badly damaged after drivers crashed into them on more than one occasions that the School Streets schemes there were abandoned. The story is similar at Haimo School where the fixed bollards used to maintain the School Street are damaged due to vehicle collisions but still just about usable. Only at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School does the scheme seem to function without vehicle collisions.
The fact that drivers keep crashing into physical barriers around schools suggests that unmanned bollards are not effective in making the streets around schools safer. To me this suggests that without a physical barrier, drivers may take the wrong turn down a School Street more often putting parents and children at unnecessary risk if those families are assuming the road is closed and therefore safe.
I note that originally the purpose of School Streets included ‘making sure school entrances and surrounding streets are safer’ but that in the Council’s most recent consultation it states that “School Streets… is aimed at reducing harmful pollutants and improving the quality of air”. While the Cabinet Member responsible for the School Streets programme does mention making streets safer in her comments, I have serious concerns about whether this will be the result if cameras rather than physical barriers are used to restrict access to roads around schools.
Who benefits from using cameras on School Streets?
The use of cameras to reduce car usage around schools has been pioneered elsewhere in the country but I am unsure who benefits in Eltham from their introduction. Below is my attempt to suggest which stakeholders may benefit.
| Stakeholder | Do they benefit? |
| Homeowners around schools without existing school streets schemes | This partly depends on whether they are permitted to drive into the area during the restricted times as this is not clear from the proposals and we know the Council messed this up in Greenwich with their LTN scheme. Assuming homeowners struggle with parents parking across drives and occasionally being rude to them (which I know happens around schools) this may make things better for them but equally it may just displace the problem to surrounding streets. |
| Homeowners around schools with existing school streets schemes | Given the caveat above about exemptions, the cameras may make things better for these residents as they won’t have to wait for staff or parents to move the physical barriers to that they can enter or leave their street. So it is probably better for them. |
| Parents in existing school street areas (which are still functioning) | The cameras are effectively introducing a completely different situation but using the same name. Instead of having no traffic on the road at the start and end of school, there will be vehicles going up and down the road regularly. This will change the nature of the School Street from a closed off area to a quieter road, but still a road where young children have to be closely monitored. If you like your existing School Street scheme (and there are the staff to operate it) then you probably won’t be happy with the proposal to introduce cameras. |
| Parents in areas without a current school street | These proposals will reduce the amount of traffic in roads around the school (although the exact reduction will depend on where the school is and which local roads are closed). So this is probably better than before but it will depend on each scheme. |
| School staff | Once again knowing who will be allowed to drive through the restricted area is important as if teachers or other staff aren’t included this could be a problem. If there is a car park on site I assume the School Street will have limited impact on teachers or other staff. However, if there isn’t a car park, teachers will have to park further away and if the Council’s plans for CPZs across the whole borough is introduced this will make it difficult for teachers working in the borough and maybe make recruiting them harder. |
In the past I have supported School Streets programmes and remain committed to them where they can make it safer for parents and children to arrive and leave school. Having spoken to stakeholder around existing schemes, I know there is a certain amount of cynicism about whether the Council is introducing this change for financial gain and I hope this is not the case.
My concern is that the switch to cameras will reduce traffic for new roads but won’t make it much safer for parents or children as there will still be vehicles using the street. This means that where School Streets still exist the situation will get worse in terms of safety which I think it worrying and also runs the risk of simply shifting the problems with parental parking further from the school making it harder to address if there is an issue.
Let me be honest, I also have concerns about the Council’s competence in introducing these schemes:
- We have no details of individual schemes, who will be allowed to drive in the school streets area is unclear
- The Council has failed to make camera exemptions work in Greenwich town centre
- The consultation is not put together in a way which I think will add much to the sum of anyone’s understanding.
- The Council’s inability to hold a meaningful consultation was reinforced for me when residents around Ealdham Primary School received a letter apologising for the fact they had been notified about the local consultation the day after it had taken place.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is a complex issue and the answer to whether a School Street is required will vary depending on a range of factors including where the school is situated and which road will be closed. Each scheme will need careful engagement with residents, parents and the school to make sure it is suitable – the consultation currently being held is clearly not doing that. However, making sure children around our schools are safe is a really important issue and we would urge local residents respond to the consultation which closes today (though again why it is the Sunday of a Bank Holiday weekend is beyond me – why not make it Monday?)