More pupils at Croydon schools will make safer, healthier journeys from Monday (13 March 2023), as the council has expanded its Healthy School Street (HSS) programme, bringing the total to 42 schemes across the borough.
Healthy School Streets aim to improve safety around schools and encourage more pupils to walk, cycle and scoot more often, by limiting motor traffic on the surrounding roads during school drop-off and pick-up times.
The trials were approved in December by Cabinet following an informal consultation on proposals for new schemes.
Plans for 10 new schemes were approved, however following feedback from the community, one of the schemes will be amended and improved before it is put in place.
The Harris City Academy Crystal Palace School Street will see amendments to the design on Sylvan Road, based on local input from residents and community groups. The scheme will launch in a few weeks, and more details are expected to be released soon.
The nine schemes now live are listed below:
Scheme | Included Schools |
Rockmount | Rockmount Primary School |
Kensington & Norbury High | Kensington Avenue Primary School
Norbury High School for Girls |
Harris Invictus | Harris Invictus Academy Croydon |
Elmwood | Elmwood Infants School
Elmwood Junior School |
St James the Great | St James the Great Primary and Nursery School |
Harris Upper Norwood | Harris Academy South Norwood (Beulah Hill Campus) |
Oasis Byron | Oasis Academy Byron |
St Peter’s | St Peter’s Primary School |
Minster | The Minster Nursery & Infant School
The Write Time School |
As with other HSS schemes, residents living within the scheme area are eligible to apply for a free School Street Exemption permit so they can have access at all times. In addition, exemption permits are available to some road-users who may need access – including Special Educational Needs transport. Other vehicles, such as emergency services or refuse vehicles will be automatically exempt.
Since applications opened on 20 February, hundreds of eligible motorists have already received their permits via the council’s online portal.
Anyone that lives within the boundaries of the Harris City Academy Crystal Palace scheme– including those who have applied for permits will receive a letter from the council within the next few weeks with more information on next steps.
Eligible motorists living in the aforementioned schemes going live today who have not yet applied are encouraged to do so as soon as possible to make sure they do not receive a penalty charge notice. More information on free exemption permits is available on the council website.
Public consultation and data monitoring on the schemes’ effects is now underway.
For the next six months formal objections as well as feedback can be submitted. Responses will be used to see if any improvements can be made. Details on how to get involved are available on the council website.
More information about Healthy School Streets can be found on the council website.