School Streets

What are School Streets?

School Streets are an initiative to create safer streets for everyone by reducing traffic and improving local air quality. It involves temporarily closing one or more roads surrounding a school to most vehicles for a short period at the start and end of the school day. Restrictions should have the following benefits for the school community and residents:

Improved road safety for all road users
A reduction in anti-social behaviour from thoughtless parking and dangerous vehicle movements
Less vehicles on the school run, which will reduce traffic and make it easier for pupils, parents, carers and staff to walk, scoot and cycle to school
Improved air quality around the school gates due to reduced vehicle idling

How are School Street schemes enforced?

Schemes are enforced using vehicle registration mark cameras. Cameras are placed at the entrance of roads within the School Streets zone. Restrictions are supported by legal Traffic Management Orders and any vehicles that are not exempt but travel into the zone will be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). The cost of the PCN will be £130, which will be reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days.

When are School Streets enforced?

School Streets are enforced during Waltham Forest school term dates.

During school holidays the signs will be folded away, the cameras will be switched off for this duration, and no School Street permits or exemptions will be required.

How long will School Street schemes be in place?

School Streets are initially introduced as a trial and will be reviewed after a period of six to nine months. If the trial period is deemed successful, the scheme can be made permanent by the introduction of a permanent Traffic Management Order.

Who is eligible for a permit or exemption?

Residents and businesses who have an address within a School Streets zone and have a valid CPZ permit will automatically receive a School Street permit on their RingGo account for the first year of a scheme. After the first-year, residents and businesses will need to renew their School Streets permit themselves. Further details on this can be found under ‘Apply for a School Street permit or exemption’.

The following people are eligible for an exemption for a School Streets zone however exemptions are not automatic and must be applied for in advance of entering a School Streets zone:

Residents living within a School Streets zone who do not have a CPZ permit (e.g. those with off-street parking)
Registered carers for residents living within a School Streets zone
NHS staff carrying out home visits to residents living within a School Streets zone
Businesses and their staff located within the School Streets zone
School staff accessing the school car park or using a valid parking permit for the CPZ that the school is located in
Blue Badge holders that require access to an address within a School Streets zone (this can apply for the holder, or for a third party on behalf of the holder). The Blue Badge holder must contact the Council using the contact details below to arrange their exemption in advance
Vehicles providing transport to medical appointments
Volunteers delivering food/medical supplies to residents who are self-isolating due to COVID-19
Dial-a-Ride and Community Transport services
Royal Mail vehicles
Council waste services
Trades vehicles who are providing a service to a property or business within the School Streets zone. The resident or tradesperson must contact us in advance to provide the vehicle registration and approximate duration of works so that a temporary exemption can be arranged.

Any vehicle already parked in a School Streets zone when the restriction commences will be able to leave without penalty.

All emergency services vehicles are exempt from all School Street zones.

Vehicles listed below will not be granted any exemptions:

Drivers who do have a valid CPZ permit for the area but are not a resident of a road within a School Streets zone
Visitors
Parents
Deliveries.

You can make a request via the following methods:

Apply for a School Street permit using our online form
To apply for a school street exemption please send evidence of proof of address or proof of employment at a business within the School Streets zone alongside evidence of vehicle ownership and any other appropriate documents (e.g. Blue Badge) to schoolstreets@walthamforest.gov.uk

All other exemptions can be made within 24 hours of submitting an exemption request if the request is made during working hours, Monday to Friday. Requests made on a Friday may not be processed until the following Monday.

Apply for a School Street permit or exemption

Apply for a school street permit

If you are a resident or business with an address within a School Streets zone you can apply for a permit using the online form.

If you are eligible for a School Streets exemption (e.g. if you are a Blue Badge holder or a tradesperson), you can request your exemption by emailing schoolstreets@walthamforest.gov.uk with the following information:

Name of School Streets zone
Proof of vehicle ownership (e.g. V5 certificate/Motability document)
Proof of Blue Badge (if applicable)

We aim to process exemption requests within 24 hours of a request being made if the request is made during working hours, Monday to Friday. Requests made on a Friday may not be processed until the following Monday.

If you require assistance applying for your School Street permit or exemption via the online form or email, please call 020 8496 3000.

For instructions on how to renew your School Street permit click here: Guide to renewal document (PDF)