Safer School Streets
Five Herefordshire school communities are due to benefit from the introduction of a new scheme that changes the way traffic operates.
We are implementing the Safer School Streets scheme at selected school locations:
- Broadlands Primary School – Broadlands Lane, from the junction of Aylestone Hill
- Lord Scudamore Academy – Friars Street, from the junction of Barton Road
- Lugwardine Primary Academy – Barnaby Avenue from the junction at Burdon Drive
- Riverside Primary School – Belmont Avenue, from the junction of Belmont Court and Hunderton Avenue from the junction at Hunderton Road
- Trinity Primary School – Barricombe Drive from the junction at Moor Farm Lane/Sheridan Road
School Streets
A 'School Street' is a street outside a school with a temporary, timed restriction on motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times to reduce congestion and pollution outside schools and to make it easier and safer for children to get to and from school by walking, wheeling and cycling.
Introduction of School Streets
After consultation with local people, and close collaboration with the schools, several issues have been raised, including:
- Cars parked on pavements, forcing children, parents and residents to walk in the road
- Unsafe and stressful environment for children outside school entrances
- Residents' properties being obstructed by parked cars
- Parent reluctance to allow children to travel to school independently due to concerns over road safety
The Safer School Streets scheme aims to improve safety around schools during drop-off and pick-up times, by restricting vehicle access.
Similar schemes have been widely introduced across the UK with positive results. The schemes offer a way for school communities to address congestion and improve road safety outside schools while promoting more active ways to travel to and from school.
Implementation
Traffic monitoring sensors for the scheme are being introduced during June 2025, but there will be no changes to the way traffic operates until autumn 2025.
In the autumn we will introduce the Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) which will prohibit non-authorised vehicles from entering restricted zones at specified times.
This will be one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon.
The restrictions will be in force on weekdays during the school term only. Access for emergency services will be maintained at all times.
Detailed information regarding each scheme is being shared with schools, parents, local residents and businesses, and local parish councils.
Advanced warning signs will be installed two weeks before the Safer School Street trial going live. The signs will show the exact times the new restrictions are in place.
People will not be permitted to drive into the Safer School Street zone during the restricted hours, unless they have been granted an exemption.
Exemptions
The restrictions will apply to school traffic and general through traffic during school pick-up and drop-off times.
Parents/carers dropping off or collecting children will not be eligible for an exemption and will be encouraged to use the Park and Stride routes.
Parents/carers will only qualify for exemptions in instances where the parent or child is a Blue Badge holder and vehicle access to the school is required.
Some residents and their visitors, local businesses, Blue Badge holders and others with a legitimate reason for entering the zones will be exempt from the restrictions.
List of exemptions
- Access to business and residential properties in Broadlands Lane, Friars Street, Barnaby Avenue, Barricombe Drive, Belmont Avenue and Hunderton Avenue
- Residents (and their visitors) who live on Broadlands Lane, Friars Street, Barnaby Avenue, Barricombe Drive, Belmont Avenue and Hunderton Avenue
- Businesses (and their visitors/customers) on Broadlands Lane, Friars Street, Barnaby Avenue, Barricombe Drive, Belmont Avenue and Hunderton Avenue
- Carers and healthcare workers serving properties in Broadlands Lane, Friars Street, Barnaby Avenue, Barricombe Drive, Belmont Avenue and Hunderton Avenue
- School staff
- Emergency vehicles
- Street cleansing and waste collection
- Postal service vehicles (liveried vehicles only)
- Utility companies (such as water, electricity, and gas companies) attending emergency works
- School buses
- Public transport
- Parents/guardians of pupils with Educational, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)
- Blue Badge holders
We will be writing to those residents and businesses who are eligible for an exemption to apply for a free permit nearer the time.
Signage
Keep a look out for new signage at each location. The signs will show the exact dates and times the new restrictions will be in place. From this point unauthorised vehicles must not enter the restricted zones between the specified times.
Park and Stride
Alternative parking is available at each of our Park and Stride locations. The Park and Stride maps shown are indicative and subject to finalisation.
Broadlands Primary School
Lord Scudamore Academy
Lugwardine Primary School
Riverside Primary School
Trinity Primary School
Monitoring the impact of the Safer School Streets trial
The Safer School Streets scheme will be implemented under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) under Sections 9 and 10 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which introduce a restriction on motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times.
The trial will operate for six months with an aim of making the Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders permanent should it be found to be successful. We will be conducting thorough evaluations of this trial and will be working closely with partners (such as the school and local parking enforcement personnel) to continuously monitor the scheme.
We have the option to amend the ETROs accordingly to ensure the project achieves its objectives.
Feedback
When the trial starts we will be gathering feedback from the areas.
Based on feedback and monitoring data, we will make a decision after six months regarding whether the measures should be changed, made permanent or removed.
Contact us
Safer School Streets team - email schoolstreets@herefordshire.gov.uk
Funding
This scheme is part of the Improving Transport in Hereford programme of works. It is part of a £19,990,000 investment from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund for a package of transport and travel measures in and around Hereford city.
