Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development introduced a report on the school streets programme.

School Streets was aimed at improving air quality and road safety around school gate areas and encouraging more active travel (cycling, walking and scooting). Vehicles would be prohibited from using the designated areas during the main school drop-off and pick-up times, with exemptions for those living in the designated roads, key school staff and other specified service providers.

The Cabinet Member advised that the School Streets trial project had been implemented at four of the Boroughs primary-age schools (Grafton Primary, Manor Junior, Dorothy Barley Primary and Becontree Primary) in July 2021, with Eastbury Primary implemented in September.  All five areas implemented had been hailed a success by parents and, in response to the positive feedback, a further seven primary-age schools were planned for implementation by Spring 2022.  It was noted that the schemes were funded by the Department for Transport via Transport for London.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the School Streets project, especially compared to low traffic neighbourhood schemes introduced elsewhere in London, and expressed the desire to see the School Streets project extended to many other schools in the Borough.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Endorse the current School Streets trial projects at Becontree Primary, Dorothy Barley Primary, Eastbury Primary, Grafton Primary and Manor Junior;

(ii)  Approve the inclusion of Hunters Hall Primary, Parsloes Primary, Richard Alibon Primary, Southwood Primary, St Joseph’s Primary (Dagenham), Sydney Russell Primary and Valence Primary in the trial programme by Spring 2022;

(iii)  Approve the draft School Streets Exemption Policy, as set out at Appendix D to the report, and authorise the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth to make any necessary changes to the policy in response to feedback from statutory consultation and guidance issued by TfL and DfT;

(iv)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development and the Strategic Director, Law and Governance, to:

(a)  Agree the inclusion of further schools in the trial programme, subject to appropriate grant funding being available;

(b)  Determine whether any trial scheme should be made permanent, prior to the expiry of the Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) and following statutory consultation and a full assessment of the benefits of the scheme;

(c)  Take all necessary steps to make permanent any trail schemes, including the publication of Traffic Management Orders.