Last updated: 23 November 2023

Next review: 23 November 2024

Who we are and what we do

The Behaviour Change Team, Highways, and Resident Services operate a number of School Street Zones within the Borough. Our aim is to create safer streets for everyone by reducing traffic congestion and improving local air quality. School Streets involve temporarily closing one or more roads surrounding a school to most vehicles. This is for a short period at the start and end of the school day. 

Further details about our School Streets scheme or the application process for a vehicle exemption.

If you have questions regarding this service or our privacy practices, you can contact us by email or in writingEmail schoolstreets@walthamforest.gov.uk for more information.

You can also contact us by post. Please write to:

Behaviour Change Team, Highways, Resident Services
Waltham Forest Town Hall
Forest Road
Walthamstow, E17 4JF

Please note that in person meetings are by appointment only and can be arranged with the service by email.

Information we hold about you

School Street Zones are enforced through the processing of images of vehicles entering and exiting the zones. This is during the times that the temporary restriction is in operation. Images are collected via the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system.

Algorithms are used to identify and capture vehicles travelling into a predetermined area set in the cameras. Once a vehicle enters this area, the number plate will then be checked against a white list database. The captured footage will then be reviewed by a qualified CCTV operator. They will cross-check that all criteria have been met before the penalty charge notice is issued.

The Behaviour Change Team also processes applications for vehicle exemptions for School Streets schemes. For this purpose, we may collect proof of address, proof of vehicle ownership, and proof of Blue Badge documentation.

Why we need your information and how we use it

We collect personal data through the use of ANPR CCTV and processing applications for exemption permits. We do this for the effective administration, policing, and enforcement of the School Street Zone scheme.

Who your information will be shared with (if applicable)

We may pass your personal data with:

  • Internal departments
  • Our CCTV contractor
  • Agencies with whom we have a duty to co-operate, such as the police and DVLA
  • HM Court Services or London Tribunals.

This will be on the basis of law enforcement, regulation, criminal prosecutions and legal proceedings.

We will not share data with third parties for marketing purposes.

How long we will keep your information

Data will be kept up to a maximum of 6 years.  However, depending on the scenario as below could be deleted earlier.

Paid cases

Period: 2 years 

Deletion of DVLA details, from any cases that have been closed for payment after 2 years from the date of issue of Penalty Charge Notice.

Cancelled cases

Period: 2 years 

Deletion of DVLA details, from any cases that have been cancelled after 2 years from the date of issue of Penalty Charge Notice.

Letters/Stat Documents

Period: 2 years             

Removal of any Letters/Stat Documents on cases that have been closed for more than 2 years.

Photos/Scanned Correspondences

Period: 2 years           

Deletion of any images or scanned correspondence from any cases that have been closed for more than 2 years. The script will be automated to run on a monthly basis.

Complete case removal

Period: 6 years 

Once images, correspondence, letters, DVLA data are removed the remaining information of the case will remain in the system for 6 years.

Our Data Protection Officer

Our Data Protection Officer is Mark Hynes, you contact him by email at data.protectionofficer@walthamforest.gov.uk

Protecting your information

Please see the relevant section of the Corporate Privacy Notice.

Your information choice and rights

Please see the relevant section of the Corporate Privacy Notice.

Complaints and contact details

These are included in the relevant section of the Corporate Privacy Notice.

Information Commissioner’s Office

If we’re unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)