Brittons Academy, Whybridge Infants & Junior Schools - School Streets Permanent Scheme Consultation

Overview

Havering Council would like to hear your views on proposals to make the School Street scheme in your area permanent and extend it to additional roads.

The current trial scheme covers the area around Brittons Academy and Whybridge Infant and Junior Schools. The trial is due to end on Wednesday 2 December 2026.

School Streets aim to create safer, healthier and more pleasant journeys to and from school. By reducing traffic near school entrances at busy times, the scheme can help to improve road safety, reduce air pollution and encourage more walking, cycling and other active travel.

During the trial, we gathered feedback and carried out observations to assess how well the scheme was working and its impact on the surrounding area. The review found that displaced parking was not spread evenly across nearby roads, leading to increased traffic and parking pressures on some streets.

To help the scheme operate more effectively if it is made permanent, we are proposing to extend the School Street zone to include the following roads:

• Alexandra Road
• Blacksmiths Lane
• Elmer Close
• Elmer Gardens
• Ford Close
• Ford Lane
• Harlow Road 58 -104 even & 67 - 107 odd
• Newtons Close
• Oliver Road
• Sunningdale Road
• Weedon Mews

Frequently asked questions (FAQ’s)

How does a school street scheme work?  

A school street scheme closes roads to non-essential vehicles around the entrance to schools at opening and closing times.  

Only pedestrians and non-motorised vehicles are permitted to access a zone while the restriction is in place, with exceptions made for emergency vehicles.  

Signage stating the zone times and days of operation is displayed at the entrance and exits of the zone. Additional early warning signs are positioned in roads approaching a zone on appropriate street furniture such as lamp columns.  

A school street zone is monitored by unattended cameras mounted on lamp columns or posts at the entry and exit points of a zone. Vehicles seen entering the restricted area during the times of prohibition without a virtual access permit will be issued a Penalty Charge Notice.  

Why are these changes being implemented?  

The Council is committed to making Havering’s roads safer for everyone living, working and visiting the borough. We are creating a cleaner environment that will reduce air pollution and improve the health and wellbeing of the community by encouraging more walking and cycling wherever possible.  

The aim is to improve local air quality and make it easier and safer for children and their parents to walk and cycle to school.  

Reducing the use of private car journeys to and from school should lead to: 

• Less road danger from traffic  

• Less anti-social behaviour from inconsiderate parking and dangerous driving  
• More walking and cycling by children and parents 
• Reduced congestion and pollution from vehicles waiting with their engines running  

What are the benefits of a school street?  

A school street supports the aims of school travel plans which explore how pupils, staff and visitors travel to and from the school by promoting active, healthy, safe and sustainable travel to school as an alternative to short, single occupancy car journeys.  

Health benefits  

Exercising vigorously at least once a day for children is key to a long-lasting good health, which could be easily achieved by having an active journey to school.  

Physical activity also leads to chemical changes in the brain that trigger a positive mood and a feel-good mind-set. 

Air quality 

Children’s lung development is particularly at risk from air pollution damage that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Pollution worsens asthma and increases the risk of developing allergies.  

Pollution also impacts the brain by reducing attentiveness and memory. It has been linked to depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder and raises the risk of heart disease later in life. 

Road danger reduction 

School run related traffic accounts for a quarter of cars on the road and adds 254,000 vehicles a day in London alone. This results in increased risks of collisions with vulnerable road users and other motorists, unlawful parking, traffic jams and road rage.  

Statistics from the Department of Transport reveal that 14% of children killed on Great Britain’s roads in 2018 were between the morning school run (7-9am) and 23% after school between 3-5pm. 

Are any vehicles permitted access to a school street zone? 

Residents living within a zone are permitted to enter and exit during the times of operation but are encouraged to avoid driving through the zone at school start and finish times when possible. Access is permitted to a school street zone during the times of operation for parents and guardians with children that are blue badge holders. This is extended to parents and guardians who are blue badge holders with children attending an infant school.  

It is recognised that registered and unregistered carers may also need access to a property within a school street during the times of operation to provide essential care and will therefore be granted access.   

A resident or business that owns private/off-street parking within the zone may require access during the times of operation. In this instance documents showing ownership will be required when applying for a virtual school street access permit.

The restriction does not prevent residents and their visitors leaving the street during the times of operation, as access is restricted only for the purpose of keeping the area free of traffic for children’s health and safety. Please refer to the exemptions table above for more information.

Can school staff still access private parking on school premises? 

Access during the times of the prohibition will be permitted for staff in the instance a school has off-street private parking provided exclusively for staff.   

However, we strongly encourage that staff arrive and leave school premises outside of the times of the prohibition, to keep the road clear of vehicular traffic for the safety of children.

What happens once I have a permit?

If you’re registered as a permit holder, this will mean that you have an exemption to the enforcement and your vehicle registration is whitelisted. This ensures that you are not penalised for entering the zone during the prohibited hours. The School Street will only be in operation during term time.

For further information about our school street scheme and exemptions,  please visit our School Streets website Click here

Why your views matter

Your opinions will help guide us to make the right decisions for the safety of children who attend schools within the London Borough of Havering.