School Streets

School Streets are timed controls on most motor traffic entering the roads outside of schools, during pick-up and drop-off times (term time only).The aim is to encourage active travel to school, reduce parking congestion, engine idling, reduce road danger and improve air quality.

Some School Streets in Kingston are monitored by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that detect vehicles travelling into the restricted streets during the restricted times (school pick up and drop off). Some vehicles will be exempt. We encourage vehicle movements to be avoided during the active times in a School Street zone however any vehicles already within the zone are free to leave at any time.

The timings of the restricted zone depend on the school’s opening and closing times and vary by location. If a non-exempt vehicle enters the restricted zone during restricted times, the owner will be required to pay a moving traffic penalty charge.

Vehicles that are permitted to be driven into the scheme will vary from scheme to scheme, often depending on information obtained through the consultation and engagement process. To ensure that bus routes are not impacted during operating times, public service buses are exempt. Other exemptions are emergency service vehicles and official school transport dropping off or picking up pupils from the school or their home address if they live within a School Street scheme.

Registering for an exemption

To apply for an exemption you will need to complete a form linked to the indivdual school street scheme. You will need to provide proof of address, information about your vehicle and a code which has been sent by post to residents in the school streets zone. If you need any help to complete the exemption form email schoolstreets@kingston.gov.uk
 

Exempt vehicles

The following motor vehicles are exempt:

• Emergency services vehicles
• Postal service, excluding Parcelforce
• Statutory undertakers*, including utility services (working on the public highway)

*Statutory undertakers are licensed to work on the public highway and include the following examples -

• Waste vehicles
• All utility services - electricity/water/gas/internet

These motor vehicles are also exempt and will need to register their vehicles with the scheme the individual school streets scheme

• Private vehicles owned, hired or leased by residents within the School Street scheme
• Caregivers or health care workers who provide essential care to residents within the School Streets scheme
• Private hire vehicles/taxis/hackney carriages carrying residents who have a registered disability or who are unable to walk from the entrance to the restricted zone. Proof of eligibility will be required.
• Transport provided for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• School buses.

There are also exemptions for some types of school-related traffic, you must resigster you vehicles for the individual school streets scheme

• Parents picking up children with mobility injuries
• Blue badge holding teachers, pupils and parents, carers, and other staff at the school where the restriction is present.
• School staff that require parking at the school. The school will advise staff to avoid driving in the school street during its operational times.

The following are not exempt from the scheme restrictions

• Friends and family wishing to visit residents within the school street scheme, unless they are providing essential daily care for a resident living in the school street or providing transport to an urgent medical appointment. This is reviewed on a case by case basis
• Tradespeople
• Utility services - electricity/water/gas/internet except on an emergency basis. Routine visits / appointments would need to be scheduled outside of school street operating hours (an assessment will be undertaken on a case by case basis depending on evidence provided on whether a visit was deemed essential)
• Deliveries, unless they are for essential medical supplies or social care provider arranged community meal deliveries.
• Private hire vehicles/taxis/hackney carriages that have not been registered for the purposes above.

Days of operation

School streets are in operation during school term times. School Streets are enforced on teacher strike days.

School Streets are enforced on polling days, unless the school or a building within the school street is operating as a polling station. The following school streets will not operate on polling days:

• Alexandra Primary School - Princes Road
• St Pauls Primary School - Alexandra Road
• Castle Hill Primary School - Buckland Road
• Lovelace Primary School - Devon Way