16 more schools in Wandsworth interested in joining the School Street scheme Post Reply

[Community Editor]

Last week Earlsfield’s Beatrix Potter became the latest primary to become a School Street and could soon be joined shortly by another two - Tooting Primary School and neighbouring St Boniface Primary School.

There are already 21 School Streets in Wandsworth covering 23 schools – where motor vehicles are prevented from driving past school entrances at the start and end of the school day.

Discussions are also underway at 14 more schools which have expressed an interest in joining the scheme. These are: Bolingbroke Academy, Ark John Archer Academy, St John Bosco College, Dolphin School, Centre Academy London, St Michael's CofE, Chestnut Grove Academy, Hornsby House School, Swaffield, Smallwood, The Roche, Finton House, Brandlehow, and All Saints’ CofE.

The scheme involves the roads containing school entrances closed to traffic when pupils arrive in the mornings and leave in the afternoons.

While vehicle traffic is normally prevented from entering any School Streets during its hours of operation, it does not apply to local residents who live in the streets or drivers with a disability who need access. The schemes only apply during term times.

For more information about School Streets in Wandsworth please visit the council’s website, which includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section.

[NVHusband]

Interesting that Belleville Primary isn’t on the list to apply for a School Street.

There is a serious issue around parents dropping off their kids on the school run… many park in clearly No Parking areas.

[XYZ]

I can’t wait for this to be fully implemented across the borough at every school. I am supportive of larger no-car zones around schools (2-3 blocks) to ensure safety and discourage driving.

Drivers go way to fast in the morning race - frequently exceeding 20mph speed limits, dangerously passing cars and cycles - and then seem to think road rage is OK while trying to get children into school.

Our lovely Victorian neighbourhoods were not designed for this volume of unnecessary cars. Most journeys could be made on foot or cycle. People need to better manage their time. And ps- children and adults do not melt in the rain. Umbrellas and boots are very effective at keeping people dry. I

t is very frustrating to see the volume of children dropped off in cars when people live 10-20min walk from schools. My comments are not directed at people with mobility issues - who constitute a very small percentage of drivers.

[juliantenniscoach]

Interesting that Belleville Primary isn’t on the list to apply for a School Street.

There is a serious issue around parents dropping off their kids on the school run… many park in clearly No Parking areas.

You beat me to it.  Total joke and zero enforcement.
 

[Anne123]

It's disappointing that residential streets are having to be closed to the public (and the people that actually live on these streets) and access restricted because parents can not abide by rules and put their children and their classmates as risk due to dangerous driving or parking in unsuitable areas. There is absolutely no enforcement by the schools or penalties applied.  

[readysteadycook]

Well done to the residents around Finton who have rejected the silly school street idea. This from Wandworth Council :-

”Proposals for the school street scheme for Ark John Archer and Finton House schools are not being progressed at this stage.”

https://wandsworth.gov.uk/roads-and-tra ... ts-scheme/


There are more planned by the council, it’s important they are rejected, especially a potential one at Chestnut Grove in Balham, which will cause chaos in Balham. Agendas by certain Balham councillors are not in the best interests of all of us.


My general issues with school streets are :-

- People are getting fined for not seeing schoolstreet signs.

- children need to know roads are dangerous and these streets mask that.

- potential for surrounding roads to get gridlocked.

[Goldhawk]

Chestnut Grove would benefit from a school street - the volume of children is too great for the pavements!

In the interim it would help if the council enforced trimming of hedges on residential properties along the road

[readysteadycook]

Chestnut Grove would benefit from a school street - the volume of children is too great for the pavements!

In the interim it would help if the council enforced trimming of hedges on residential properties along the road

A Chestnut Grove school street would be the worst school street possible.

It would cause chaos for anyone living in Balham, as it would block off a very important road. The fines that unsuspecting people (and our trades people) would get would be significant.  

Finton 'school street' has just been blocked by the local residents - we need to start seeing sense that traffic doesn't just evaporate and children need to understand that all roads need to be treated with care.

The cost of setting up a school street is also significant, each one from £10k to £50K - taxpayers money that we will have to pay.

[Mememe]

Our lovely Victorian neighbourhoods were not designed for this volume of unnecessary cars
- get yr horse and cart out. Lives have moved on since those times, we even have electricity in homes now.

Most journeys could be made on foot or cycle. People need to better manage their time
- very condescending. People have lives and even jobs around school pickups, you do realise this?

It is very frustrating to see the volume of children dropped off in cars when people live 10-20min walk from schools
- how do you know where they live??