As the children settle back in at school, four Harrow schools are trying out schemes to promote walking, scooting and cycling with less air pollution and road danger.
The Schools Street projects – run by Harrow Council with TfL – are being introduced outside Grimsdyke, Hatch End; Newton Farm School, Rayners Lane; Marlborough, Wealdstone and Park High School, Belmont initially for 6 months and involve timed closures to traffic.
- Measures will introduce restrictions on motor vehicles entering streets with schools at opening and closing times on an experimental basis. This will support more active travel to schools. Some of these measures could remain permanently if successful.
Residents will be consulted as the trial is taking place and can give feedback on the council’s engagement portal at https://harrowstreetspaces.commonplace.is/from early October.
Cllr Varsha Parmar, Environment Portfolio Holder,said: “This project puts Harrow’s schools streets ahead!
“We have an opportunity to promote cycling and walking as well as safer roads at a time when coronavirus makes it essential for people travel in these ways. No cars mean social distancing is possible – cutting the chance of people catching Covid-19.
“School Streets also aid our No.1 priority in reducingpollution – getting rid of motor vehicle emissions whichcontribute to poor health conditions such as asthma.
“This is so important around schools. Here we are teaching the younger generation the benefits of being active and healthy while keeping them safer on the road.”
The benefits of School Streets are:
Some people will still be allowed access to the street during restricted hours, such as residents of a school street, carers and blue badge holders accessing the school.
In Harrow, School Streets are enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras or CCTV enforcement vehicles.
If you are a resident or blue badge holder you will need to register your vehicle(s) with Harrow Council. Unauthorised vehicles that enter the road during operating times will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
The projects:
Grimsdyke Primary School
Sylvia Avenue – between Colburn Avenue and Lyndon Avenue will be closed between: 8.15am to 9.15am and 2.45pm to 3.45pm.
The scheme will be enforced by two ANPR cameras.
Marlborough Primary School
Marlborough Hill – between Rusland Park Road and Harrow View, Leys Close, Rugby Close, Ranmoor Gardens and Badminton Close will be closed between: 8.00am to 9.30am and 2.30pm – 4.00pm.
The scheme will be enforced by two CCTV vehicles.
Newton Farm Nursery, Infant and Junior School
Drake road – between Kings Road and Alexandra Avenue and Ravenswood crescent (entire road) will be closed between: 8.30am to 9.15am and 3.00pm to 3.45pm.
The scheme will be enforced by two CCTV vehicles.
Park High School
Thistlecroft Gardens (entire road), Burnell Gardens (entire road) will be closed between: 8.15am to 9.15am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm.
The scheme will be enforced by two ANPR cameras.
These School Streets are being implemented by Experimental Traffic Order for a minimum of 6 months which means the council will thoroughly monitor and evaluate any impacts of the scheme before considering making the School Streets permanent.
