Cars banned from more school streets in Croydon

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

New rules banning cars outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times have been introduced at 10 new locations in Croydon.

The latest ‘School Streets’ join 17 existing schemes in the borough, with the aim of reducing pollution and making it safer for pupils going to school.

We spoke to parents waiting for their children outside St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School in Upper Norwood.

Drivers will have to avoid Woodend between 8am-9.30am and 2-4pm during term time, or could face a fine of up to £130.

Beatrice Annin already walks with her Year 3 child to and from school but was concerned that closing the street has clogged up surrounding roads.

She said: “It’s not right because you can see the way the main road is packed with cars. It does not take long to drop off or pick up your child.

“I walk or sometimes I get people to drop me, but with this I don’t think I will do that anymore.”

Sharon Bartley usually drives to collect her children from school and now parks round the corner in Bradley Road.

“It is busier for parking now, it is a one-way road, and people are coming quite early to get a space,” she said.

“To be honest I think it is good and safe for the children, and a lot of cars can park round the corner anyway.”

Jo Osborne was all for the new measures and thinks more people should walk with their children to school.

She said: “To me it doesn’t make much difference because I always walk, but I think it is so much better.

Sometimes here in the mornings it is like a death trap, something needed to be done.

“I have noticed a difference already, there is less pollution near the school and it is much safer.”

Headteacher Leonie Fernandes said she wrote to parents before the measures came in on September 1.

She told us: “We did have an issue with parking, the volume of traffic is quite high.

“I think more people have been walking since the start of school, we always try to promote that anyway.”

Pictured top: St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School in Upper Norwood