Richmond upon Thames Council is continuing to expand its School Streets programme, with plans to make Phase 4 permanent and provide updates on Phases 5 and 6. The initiative, which creates part-time pedestrian and cycle zones outside schools, aims to enhance road safety, encourage active travel, and improve air quality.
The council has reported that 18 School Streets are currently operating or proposed within the borough. These schemes employ varying methods of operation and enforcement,
including signage only, barriers, or automatic number plate recognition. While enforcement methods may evolve, all School Streets share a similar entry arrangement to maintain a degree of commonality about the look and feel of the School Streets which was unique to Richmond.
During a recent Transport and Air Quality Committee meeting, councillors were asked to approve making the School Street outside St James' Catholic Primary School permanent and to approve amended operating times for the Sheen Mount Primary School Street. For St. James's Catholic Primary School, post-implementation monitoring indicated a significant reduction in traffic in the street immediately outside the school, which previously presented significant road safety concerns,
with a negligible
increase in parking in the surrounding area.
The report also indicates a desire to look for more potential School Streets schemes and not just make the existing ones bigger and better,
with other schools that have expressed interest being considered. However, specific criteria for selecting new schools are not detailed.
Concerns raised by residents or businesses regarding the permanent implementation of School Streets, such as the potential for traffic displacement, are being addressed through highway safety schemes like pedestrian crossings or road safety measures. The council's Transport Strategy to 2040 also outlines a commitment to sustainable transport initiatives.
For more details on the committee's discussions and decisions, refer to the Public reports pack Monday 16-Mar-2026 19.00 Transport and Air Quality Committee.
