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School Streets

School streets drawn logo

What are School Streets?

A School Street is a road outside a school with a temporary restriction on motorised traffic and parking. Restrictions are limited to short periods at peak school drop-off and pick-up times only. The restriction applies to school traffic and through traffic, but there can be exemptions for residents of the street, blue badge holders and for other essential purposes.

In BCP, we have five established School Streets in operation and two that are running on a trial basis.

Benefits of School Streets

By closing the road directly outside a school, we can help to reduce road danger and improve air quality locally.  Having a designated space for people to use can help to encourage more people to choose to walk, cycle, wheel or scoot for at least part of the school run.

School Streets can reduce congestion at peak times and improve the health and wellbeing of young people. They also provide a safer and more accessible space for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.

This initiative will help to ensure brighter futures for young people. It will also complement our wider Transforming Travel programme and declared climate and ecological emergency goals.

Share your views on your local school street

Our School Streets trial schemes are subject to a formal public consultation and implementation process. Parents, carers, residents, businesses and schools are now able to have their say on their local trial. All views will be taken into consideration before any changes are made permanent. FAQs can be found here.

Current School Streets trials:

  • Oakdale Junior School, Poole
  • Poole High School
  • The Bourne Academy
  • Kingsleigh Primary School

Permanent School Streets:

  • St Michael’s CE Primary School, Bournemouth
  • Hamworthy Park Junior School, Poole
  • St Clement’s & St John’s CE Infant School, Bournemouth
  • Livingstone Road Infant School, Poole
  • Pokesdown Community Primary School, Bournemouth

If you are interested in your school being considered for a future trial, please contact your school and ask them to contact us via activetravel@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

Funding

BCP Council was awarded funding from the Department for Transport to secure a temporary Sustrans School Streets Officer, to help engage with the school communities and deliver these trial schemes.