New School Street launches in Kingston Town Centre
Parents and carers at Latchmere and St Agatha’s Primary Schools will now enjoy safer drop-offs and pick-ups outside the school gates.
Today (24 May 2021), a new School Street was introduced on Latchmere Road and Dinton Road.
School Streets limit motor vehicle access during drop-off and pick-up times, supporting active travel by making it safer for children and their families to walk, cycle and scoot to school.
Signs have been prominently placed on all approaches informing drivers that they cannot enter the road (between Park Road and the roundabout that joins Latchmere Road and Latchmere Lane, as well as the short section of Dinton Road starting at the junction of Bockhampton Road) between 8.15-9.30am and 2.30-4pm during school term time.
Residents and businesses who live and work on the School Street, as well as Blue Badge holders are exempt once they have registered their vehicle. Any vehicles without an exemption that enter the road during the time restrictions will receive a Penalty Charge Notice.
Cllr Stephanie Archer, Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainable Transport said:
“We are delighted to be introducing another School Street in the borough, helping to create a safer and healthier environment for children and their parents on their journeys to and from Latchmere and St Agatha’s Primary Schools.
“Vehicles will no longer be allowed outside the school during drop-off and pick-up times, maximising space for families to walk, cycle and scoot safely. This will also help reduce vehicle idling outside the school entrances, helping greatly improve air quality in the area.
“Our School Streets are one part of our wider commitment to tackling the climate emergency, improving air quality and enabling our residents and visitors to use sustainable travel options.”
The scheme has been introduced using an Experimental Traffic Management Order, which can last upto 18 months. During this time residents are encouraged to share their views on the School Street by visiting the Our Streets Hub.
The council will monitor traffic in the area throughout the trial period. This data alongside all of your feedback will be used to make recommendations on the next steps. The Kingston Town neighbourhood committee will then decide whether to make the scheme permanent.
This is the fifth School Street introduced in the borough, with a permanent scheme now in place at Lovelace Primary School in Chessington and three trials underway at St Paul’s Primary School in Kingston Town, Alexandra Primary School in Kingston Town and Castle Hill Primary School in Chessington.
Alongside School Streets, the council continues to invest in cycle training, as well as its cycling infrastructure network, and is introducing more electric vehicle charging points to make it easier for those who need to drive to make the switch to electric vehicles.
For more information about Kingston’s School Streets and to share your views on this scheme visit: kingstonletstalk.co.uk/hub-page/our-streets.
To find out more about the council’s sustainable transport initiatives visit: kingston.gov.uk/Sustainabletransport.