Lewisham council to consider proposals for more roads to be closed around schools

By Grainne Cuffe, Local Democracy Reporter

A list of upcoming school streets has been published in a report set to go before Lewisham’s overview and scrutiny business panel on Tuesday.

School streets, which close off sections of road outside or near schools either all day or at pick up and drop off times, form part of a number of emergency measures introduced this year.

They aim to provide a safe space for children entering or leaving school.

The closures are usually enforced with physical barriers or automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Schools with narrow footpaths, higher traffic volumes, and higher pupil numbers were given priority.

So far, Adamsrill Primary School, All Saints CE School, Ashmead Primary School, Conisborough College, Deptford Green School, John Ball School, Kelvin Grove Primary School, Prendergast Ladywell School, Sir Francis Drake School, and Tidemill Academy School have joined the scheme.

In the coming weeks, they are set to be joined by Athelney, St William of York, St John the Baptist, Lucas Vale, Holbeach, and Coopers Lane.

More are set to join the programme in January 2021, when the council receives the “necessary camera enforcement equipment”.

These include Gordonbrock, Elliot Bank, Rushey Green, Brindishe Green, Haseltine, Rathfern, Kilmorie, Myatt Garden, Holy Cross, and Good Shepherd.

“Unfortunately, due to the national shortage of camera equipment these delivery timescales are longer than initially anticipated,” according to the report.

The report also states that the council is working on implementing school streets in the Lee Green area “as soon as possible”, “given the recent changes” to the LTN.

There are a number of schools, including Torridon and Sandhurst, where it has not been possible to implement school streets “due to feasibility and funding constraints”.

The council, according to the report, is considering other measures for schools who were interested in joining the programme, such as widening footways temporarily, coloured surfacing on roads to help improve awareness of the school, slowing speeds, and improving safety for people walking and cycling.

A further eight schools have asked for school streets, but will have to wait until more funding becomes available.