Streets outside the borough’s schools will be closed to cars to reduce air pollution and improve safety.
Councillors in Haringey have approved a ‘school streets’ programme they hope will encourage more pupils to walk, cycle or take the bus. It will involve closing roads outside schools at least half an hour before opening and closing times, with restrictions lifted 15 minutes after the schools have closed.
Drivers that pass through the camera-enforced closures during the restricted hours will face a £130 penalty, reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days.
The first set of measures focuses on 20 schools and will make temporary changes that were introduced in response to Covid-19 pandemic permanent, as well as introducing cameras.
After the first set has been complete, the council plans to introduce school streets at a rate of three per year.
Schools have been prioritised according to criteria such as local air quality, traffic issues and the suitability of the road network.
The school streets programme was approved at a meeting of Haringey’s cabinet on Tuesday 10th November.
Cllr Kirsten Hearn, Haringey Council’s cabinet member for climate change, equalities and leisure, said: “School Streets are a proven and successful method for improving air quality, road safety and increasing active travel.
“They successfully remove the vast majority of cars from the roads outside of a school and make parents think twice about how they take their children to school.
“People have taken to cars because of the pandemic, which we totally understand, but hopefully things will change and they will be encouraged to walk or ride or take the bus to school.
“Active journeys to school would hugely benefit everyone – children’s health and wellbeing and peace of mind.”
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