School Streets Schemes - Moving Traffic Enforcement
We are combining community engagement with smart Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) enforcement. Peterborough is setting a strong example of how school streets can evolve from temporary interventions operated by volunteers, into permanent, transformative infrastructure for safer and healthier school environments.
Peterborough’s School Streets scheme exemplifies how local authorities can foster safe, active, and community-led environments around schools. Its success lies in strong partnerships, low-cost implementation, and a shared vision for healthier urban spaces and Peterborough City Council remains committed to expanding the scheme. With continued interest from schools and support from groups like Mums for Lungs, the council is evolving the initiative to ensure long-term sustainability and wider adoption.
Impact
The School Streets initiative has delivered multiple benefits:
- Improved safety for children and families during school commutes.
- Reduced air pollution and traffic congestion at school gates.
- Increased physical activity through walking, cycling, and scooting.
- Enhanced community engagement, with schools and residents actively involved.
Importantly, all participating schools have recorded an increase in active travel, with a reduction in car journeys. Monitoring data shows an 18% increase in walking and cycling, demonstrating the scheme’s effectiveness in promoting healthier travel habits.
Any schools, parents or residents that want to request that a scheme is implemented outside of schools can contact – Rebecca.Presland@peterborough.gov.uk for further details.
Enforcement of the School Streets scheme
When we launched our School Streets initiative in 2020, the sites were originally operated by school volunteers physically manning and closing the road.
After the successful pilot at Queens Drive, we now have five schemes that are now permanently signed as a pedestrian only zone during the school drop off and pick up periods. These five School Streets are enforced by ANPR cameras. This releases school volunteers who will no longer need to staff the closure. The street will remain free of traffic for the safety of children when arriving and leaving school.
School Streets that are operated by volunteers
- Southfields Primary
- St Michael’s Church
- Lime Academy Parnwell
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
- St John Fisher Catholic High School
- St Michael’s Pre School
- Gunthorpe Primary (temporarily suspended)
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) enforcement zones
Where a school street ANPR scheme is in place, it is dedicated as a Pedestrian and cycle zone for 30 minutes before and after the school start and finish times.
These restrictions apply Monday to Friday in term time only. The times the restrictions apply are displayed on signage at every entry point to the street and on advanced warning signs on every approach to those streets. During the school holidays the signage is closed as the restrictions do not apply at those times.
Please see details, maps and signage for each location below.
What are the rules and exemptions?
No access to any motor vehicles between the times given on the signs Monday to Friday during term time. During the school holidays the signage will be closed, and the restriction will not apply. The following vehicles are exempt from the restriction and may enter during the restricted times:
- Resident’s vehicles that have been registered with the School Street scheme (see below)
- School staff vehicles that are registered with the School Street scheme (see below)
- Blue badge holders transporting pupils to school or blue badge holders who attend the school being transported – you must register with the School Street scheme (see below)
- Emergency service vehicles
- Council service vehicles
- Highways maintenance vehicles
Registering an exemption for the School Street scheme
If you believe one of the above exemptions applies to you and you wish to register your vehicle for access to the street during the restricted times, you should contact peterboroughschoolstreets@peterborough.gov.uk providing the following details:
- Residents should provide their name, address and vehicle registration number – including a copy of the vehicle logbook V5C. (Note: existing Queens Drive West resident permit holders do not need to register and will be covered by their existing permit. This applies only to residents permits, not visitors permits)
- Blue Badge holders should provide their name, vehicle registration number, copy of their blue badge and the name of the pupil being transported (if it is not the badge holder)
- School staff should provide details via their school contact.