Schools road safety scheme to be expanded

The School Streets programme aims to create a safer environment, improve air quality and reduce congestion

An initiative to make streets outside schools safer for children is set to extend into five new roads covering eight more schools.

The School Streets programme, launched in partnership with Medway Council and local schools, involves temporary vehicle restrictions in designated roads, turning them into pedestrian and cycle-only zones during drop-off and pick-up times in the school term.

Its aim is to create a safer environment, improve air quality and reduce congestion.

Alex Paterson, the council's portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, said: "This is positive news for these communities, but I want safer, healthier streets for all of Medway's children."

The roads and schools

From 29 September:

• View Road, Rochester: Cliffe Woods Primary School, Cliffe Wood Pre-School and the City of Rochester School.

• Drewery Drive, Gillingham: Fairview Community Primary School.

• Orchard Street, Gillingham: St Margaret's Church of England Junior School and St Margaret's Infant School.

• Hilltop Road, Rochester: Hilltop Primary Academy.

From 3 November:

• Harrison Drive, High Halstow: Leigh Academy High Halstow.

In addition to these sites, three other schemes remain under consideration while a fourth, near St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School, will be implemented once extra highway improvements have been completed.

Static cameras are installed to monitor vehicles that enter the School Street zone without an exemption.

For an initial six-month period, first time offences will receive a warning notice.

However, any subsequent breaches will result in a penalty charge notice.

The council introduced the school travel initiative at seven schools across the region in 2024 after the local authority secured £486,000 from the government's Active Travel Fund.