A School Street is a road, or section of road, that becomes closed to vehicular traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times, and where a pedestrian and cycle only zone is created in front of the school. Motorised vehicles are not permitted to enter or leave the zone during the School Street operating times, unless they have been granted an exemption.
Residents and businesses within the zone, as well as special groups (like blue badge holders and emergency vehicles) can be granted an exemption.
Is it a car-free-zone?
A School Street is not a ‘car-free-zone’, as it does not ban driving to school; rather it enables parents to either use Active Travel for their school run or, failing that, park their vehicle away from the school gate and walk the final section of their journey. The restriction applies to both school traffic and through traffic.
The aim of a School Street is to enable walking and active travel to school by creating a safer, healthier and more pleasant environment with less traffic congestion.
The introduction of School Streets
School Streets are part of a borough-wide collection of measures being introduced to tackle road safety concerns and congestion around schools. They will also help to enable active travel (by increasing confidence to walk, scoot or cycle to school).
School Streets also form a key part of Transport for Greater Manchester's (TfGM) School Travel Strategy, which aims to reduce congestion associated with school travel, improve the safety of people on our roads and help young people be more active and independent.
School Streets pilot
Operating hours
These will vary according to the school start and end times. Times will be agreed in consultation with each school that we are working with.
They generally operate for between 30 and 60 minutes during morning and afternoon school drop-off and pick-up times.
School Streets do not operate during school holidays or at weekends.
Consultation Sites
St Lukes CE Primary School:
Pilot sites
Permanent sites
- View map of St Anne's C of E Aided Primary School Street (Ormerod Avenue, OL2 5DH) - PDF
- View map of Buckstones Primary School Street (Delamere Avenue, OL2 8HN) - PDF
Requesting a School Street
If your school is interested in a School Street, we would love to hear from you.
Each school’s situation is different, don’t worry if you don’t have all this information at this stage.
A School Street requires a commitment from the school to support the scheme (and be involved in a good standard travel plan) and therefore we would need the request to come from the school with approval from the Headteacher.
Requesting a School Street by a school does not automatically mean the council can implement a School Street.
Each location is unique and depends on the council successfully bidding for funding.
Consulting with residents and local businesses
School Streets are implemented on a trial basis using an Experimental Traffic Order to enable all aspects of the scheme to be considered, including comments from residents, local businesses and the school before a decision is made on whether to make the scheme permanent.
We will consult with residents living around any School Street scheme and school parents in advance of any trials being implemented.
The experimental traffic order will then allow the trial to go ahead, and amendments be made in line with the consultation which will continue to run throughout the trial period.
Exemptions
People walking, scooting, using wheelchairs, mobility scooters and cycles (including adapted cycles) are allowed to use the School Street.
All other motor vehicles are restricted during the operating times displayed on the signs, subject to some exemptions.
Though we encourage everyone to support the School Street, where they are able, the following motorised vehicles are automatically exempt:
- Emergency vehicles
- Council waste trucks
- Postal service vehicles
- Statutory undertakers (such as water, electricity, and gas companies) attending emergency works
- School buses
- Public transport
- Residents and businesses within the School Street area
- Blue badge holders (when their destination is within the School Street area)
- Carers and healthcare workers serving properties within the School Street area
- Waste collection vehicles
I am a resident – how do I apply for an exemption?
If you live within the School Streets zone, you will receive a letter from the council with an application form. Send the completed form, along with supporting documentation, to:
-
Email: parkingshop@oldham.gov.uk
Or -
Post:
Parking Administration
PO Box 499
Oldham
OL1 9AA
Please do not send original documents.
Alternatively, complete the online form:
I am a business – how do I apply for an exemption?
If your business operates within the School Streets zone, you will receive a letter from the council with an application form. Send the completed form, along with supporting documentation, to:
-
Email: parkingshop@oldham.gov.uk
Or -
Post:
Parking Administration
PO Box 499
Oldham
OL1 9AA
Please do not send original documents.
Alternatively, complete the online form:
I'm a Blue Badge holder – how do I apply for an exemption?
If you're visiting a resident in the School Streets zone and have a Blue Badge, ask the resident to submit an application on your behalf. The resident must already have an active account with us and will need to include:
- A copy of your Blue Badge (front and back)
- A copy of your vehicle logbook (V5C)
Please do not send original documents.
I'm a parent of an SEN child or a child with a Blue Badge – how do I apply for an exemption?
If your child has special educational needs (SEN) or a Blue Badge and struggles with the journey to school, please speak with your school. The school will collect the necessary details, including:
- Vehicle registration number(s)
- A copy of the Blue Badge
The headteacher will review the request and decide on a case-by-case basis.
My child has a temporary issue and can’t walk the length of the School Street – what should I do?
If your child has a temporary condition that makes it difficult to walk, wheel, or scoot, please talk to school staff. They will pass the information on to us so we can arrange temporary access to the School Street.
I want to visit an allotment, dog walking area, or park during School Street hours – can I get an exemption?
No, these purposes do not qualify for an exemption.
I’ve got a visitor or delivery coming to my home in the School Streets area – can they enter?
Visitors should be informed about the School Street restrictions. They are not eligible for an exemption unless they are Blue Badge holders. They will need to use alternative transportation or park on a nearby street and walk.
Home deliveries should be arranged outside operating hours. Delivery drivers can complete the final part of the journey on foot if arriving during restricted times.
How is the School Street enforced?
We use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor vehicles entering the School Street during operating hours. Vehicles without an exemption may receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
The scheme is not designed to be punitive. For the first six months from the go-live date:
- A warning letter will be issued the first time a non-exempt vehicle enters.
- If you’re eligible for an exemption, you will have 14 days to apply and won’t be fined during this time.
After six months:
-
The first offence will result in a PCN being issued.
How much is the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN)?
The PCN is £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.
I want to challenge a PCN I’ve received – what should I do?
By law, all PCN challenges must be made in writing. We cannot discuss PCNs over the phone.
Once your challenge is received, your case will be placed on hold while it is reviewed. If your challenge is made within the discount period, the discount may still be reoffered after a case review.
Submit challenges via email to:
Include:
- Your PCN number
- Your vehicle registration
- Any evidence to support your challenge
For more information, visit:
Parking
During the operating times any vehicles are advised to travel at walking pace.
The School Street will make it easier for pupils, parents and carers with limited mobility to access the school by reducing traffic outside the school gates. Those holding valid blue badges will be exempt from the restrictions but should still avoid parking on school keep clear (zigzag) markings.
Displacement of traffic
Through the introduction of a School Street, over time, the total volumes of traffic near to the school are expected to decrease during drop-off and pick-up times.
Car users
The objective of the School Street is to make the school run safer, healthier and more enjoyable for the whole community, as well as for children travelling to school; not to penalise parents.
For those who need to use the car to travel to school, they could park slightly further away and walk the last part of the journey.
Some parents may feel frustrated at first, but will, over time, find ways to adjust their daily routines.
Managing the scheme
A Memorandum of Understanding will be drawn up between the Council and the participating school, detailing the ongoing roles and responsibilities.
Legalities of the scheme
Local authorities can implement Traffic Regulation Orders or Experimental Traffic Orders to control traffic in their area. These are legal powers and can be temporary or permanent. Residents must be informed about proposals.
Street signs
School Street signs will be installed at the entry points of the restricted roads and advanced warning signs will be installed on some surrounding roads, informing people of the timed closure outside the school.