Liverpool City Council expands School Streets project to boost safety and air quality

Liverpool City Council is set to introduce camera enforcement in six more areas around primary schools as part of its School Streets initiative, aiming to enhance road safety and reduce air pollution.

The phased rollout, beginning today, Monday, 4 November, is designed to decrease congestion around school entrances by calming traffic, creating safer environments for children and families, and encouraging active travel.

The School Streets project places restrictions on vehicle access during peak school times, specifically in the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up hours.

These measures are in place from 8.15am to 9.15am and from 2.30pm to 3.30pm, during term time only, at the following newly added locations:

St Clare’s Catholic Primary School – Whole of Garmoyle Close
St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School – Church Road (from Prescot Road to Selkirk Road)
St Cleopas C of E Primary School – Whole of Barclay Street
Christ the King Catholic Primary School – Whole of Fieldway and Meadway (Entire length from Wavertree Nook Road)
Rice Lane Primary school – Whole of Brockenhurst Road from Rice Lane will be added to the existing timed access restriction on Lynwood Road.
St Michaels in the Hamlet Community Primary School – Camera enforcement to be included Neilson Road from St Michael’s Road.

The times when the School Streets restrictions are in operation for all the above are from 8.15am to 9.15am and from 2.30pm to 3.30pm during term time.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be used at these schools to support enforcement of the restrictions however exemptions can apply.

School staff or parents who have a Blue Badge, or who need to drop off or pick up a child with SEND, can ask the school to apply for a camera exemption permit.

People who live on a School Street or someone who is a carer or a Blue Badge holder who regularly visits a resident on a School Street can apply for an exemption via the council’s website.

Liverpool Skyline — Credit: The Guide Liverpool

Various School Street measures are already in place at: Mab Lane, Much Woolton Catholic, Greenbank, St Michael in the Hamlet, Rice Lane, and St Gregory’s. These projects have shown that School Streets are effective in improving air quality by reducing congestion around the school site.

Monday’s phasing in will help the Council achieve its objective of creating up to 50 School Streets over the next four years, as set out under Pillar 5 of the Council Plan – A well-connected, sustainable and accessible city. Earlier this year, consultations were carried out at 20 further schools and it is hoped that School Streets will be implemented at these in the next year.

Schools that are interested in a road near them becoming a School Street can contact schoolstreets@liverpool.gov.uk

Cllr Dan Barrington, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Connectivity, said:

“After the success of the first School Streets, I’m so pleased that the Council is able to support further schools to make their communities safer.

“School Streets are a great example of the Council working with whole communities – schools, parents and residents who live near the schools – to make our environment safer and more pleasant for everyone.

“Schemes like School Streets succeed because the majority of people understand their value and pull together to make them work. I have every confidence that these new School Streets locations will bring improvements for everyone in the community.”

Simon O’Brien, Liverpool City Region’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said:

“There is nothing more important than the health of our children. So clean air and a feeling of calm around our schools at drop off and pick up are vital to help the pupils grow and learn in a positive environment.

“Well done to Liverpool City Council for enabling more schools to achieve these aims.”