School streets

Vehicles will not be able to enter the streets during the hours of operation unless they are exempt or have a valid digital permit. 

Signs will inform drivers of the restrictions before the entrance to the School Street. At some closures, advance warning signs will be installed, where needed, as will camera signs, where appropriate. The signs will display the days and hours that the School Street restrictions will apply. The sign will also show which permit will be required to access the street.

School Streets operate Monday to Friday term time only, at dates and times that coincide with the pick-up and drop-off times for the school or schools on the street.
Signs on the street will tell you what hours the School Street arrangements will apply – these times will vary from street to street.

School term dates change annually and vary from school to school, and cannot be added to a sign. School term dates are published on the school's website. Signs may still be displayed during school holidays when the School Street arrangements are not in effect.

A school street digital permit is required to access a School Street.

Digital permits can be applied for when one of the following criteria applies;

• Residents living within the School Street (excluding visitors).
• Care, health and medical workers serving a property within the School Street.
• School staff.

The following vehicle drivers cannot apply for the digital permit exemption (unless eligible under one of the criteria above) and will be liable to a PCN (penalty charge notice) it they enter the School Street during the operational times:

• Residents located outside the School Street.
• Parents/guardians dropping off/collecting children at the school.
• Other drivers wishing to drive into the street.

School Streets permits are issued separately from parking permits. School Street permits manage access to a street and parking permits manage parking on a street.

Similarly, if you have a Blue Badge to help you park this does not give access to restricted streets.

Having a parking permit for the relevant Controlled Parking Zone or a valid Blue Badge will not permit you to enter the School Street during the hours of operation. You will face the risk of incurring a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). Ensure you hold the relevant School Street permit for the street in question.
 

There are some occasional exceptional circumstances which will require a driver to enter the School Street during operating hours.

These drivers may apply for an exemption under exceptional circumstances but must state the ‘reason for application’ as being ‘other’ and select the date of entry for which the permit is required.  This date should be at least 48 hours ahead of making the application.

If a vehicle has entered under the exceptional circumstances without submitting for an exemption first they should email schoolstreets@rbwm.gov.uk within 24 hours of entering the School Street.  You will not get a reminder about this.  

Exceptional circumstances may include the following and will be considered on a case by case basis as applications are received:

• Emergency call outs (i.e. burst water pipes, gas leaks, emergency statutory undertaker works etc).
• Heavy deliveries (i.e appliances or building materials).
• Emergency deliveries (i.e. refrigerated or timed medication).

You will be asked to produce evidence of your entry reason.  Proof of eligibility can include an invoice or job schedule to confirm delivery time and address. 
Non-essential visitors, services and deliveries should be arranged for outside of School Street times, where possible.

These include the following:

• Food deliveries.
• Non-emergency call outs and services (i.e. satellite dish installation or tradespeople doing odd jobs).

Automatic exemptions apply to the following and do not need to register for a digital permit:

• Emergency vehicles.
• Council waste trucks.
• School buses and school transport.
• Royal Mail postal vehicles.

Exemptions may be withdrawn if we obtain or receive evidence that an exemption is being misused. For example, if a motorist with an exemption drives or parks in breach of other laws or regulations within the School Street or uses an incorrect address to gain access.

In such cases, drivers will be notified by email of the withdrawal of their exemption.
 

Please complete the form below.

Apply for a permit