Parents beating car ban with early school drop-offs

Some parents have been spotted turning up early to avoid volunteers enforcing the School Streets scheme

Parents have been seen arriving with their children at school early in a bid to avoid a new car ban.

The School Streets trial was recently introduced at St Mary and St John Church of England Primary School in Meadow Lane, Oxford.

It means nearby Bedford Street is closed to motorists at school pick-up and drop-off times.

But some people had been "beating the system" by arriving 45 minutes early, according to Emily Kerr, St Mary’s Ward councillor.

The road outside the school gates is closed to make the area safer during pick-up and drop-off time

Ms Kerr said she had felt amused at seeing a small number of parents waiting for nearly an hour in their cars outside "to avoid walking 50m".

"Talk about a pyrrhic victory," she said.

The traffic restrictions will last 18 months before a decision is made on whether to make them permanent, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Oxfordshire County Council described School Streets as way to create safer and healthier car-free environments outside schools.

“Until this week, a certain number of parents would drive to the bottom of the cul de sac and manoeuvre. We’ve had kids hit by cars, fights, police called," Ms Kerr said.

The first week of the scheme had gone "really well", she added.

School Streets were first launched in Oxfordshire in 2021 with a six-week trial at nine schools.

It saw volunteers operating temporary gates, after which four of the schools decided to make the rules permanent.

St Mary and St John Church of England Primary School has been approached for comment.