First three School Streets set to ‘go live’ across Bath next April

The first three School Streets in Bath & North East Somerset are expected to be up and running after the Easter holidays next April.

School Streets aim to improve the environment directly outside schools at drop-off and pick-up times by restricting access.

The three flagship School Streets are St Philip’s C of E Primary School at Odd Down, St Stephen’s Church Primary School at Lansdown and Widcombe Infants and Juniors.

In addition, a School Street for Newbridge Primary School is planned within the proposal for the Lyme Road and Charmouth Road Liveable Neighbourhood.

B&NES Council has approved £250,000 of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) funding to deliver a School Streets programme and £87,000 one-off funding was approved from the revenue budget for 2025/26.

Further funding of £75,000 has been allocated through the West of England Combined Authority Active Travel Fund to deliver School Streets in the B&NES area.

With School Streets, vehicle access is typically restricted for between 30 and 60 minutes at the beginning and end of each school day with essential access maintained for those that need it.

The exact times are agreed with each school and local community but typically run from 8.15am and 9.15am and 2.50pm and 3.50pm.

Residents with vehicles registered to an address on the School Street can apply for an exemption permit.

Temporary barriers provided to the schools by the council will enforce the schemes. Under agreement with the schools, enforcement will be carried out by stewards from each school or by community volunteers.

There will be early engagement with residents and school communities and statutory consultees during December. In January there will be Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultations and community events, and in February data will be analysed.

Pending the outcome of the consultations, in March there will be steward training, the temporary barriers will be supplied, and people will be able to start applying for permits if they qualify.

The Schools Street signs are expected to be installed over the Easter holidays prior to the launch in April.

The schools in this first tranche have already been trialling some measures to support journeys by walking, wheeling and cycling.

The council intends to support as many School Streets as possible dependent on funding available going forward.

All schools in B&NES are welcome to apply, but to be shortlisted, schools must meet specific criteria and be enrolled in the Modeshift STARS programme, the national accreditation scheme which recognises excellence in promoting sustainable travel.

There are already some School Streets in neighbouring Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and a similar initiative will be trialled in Wiltshire next year.