Roads across Richmond borough are being pedestrianised from next week in the first wave of the 'school streets' initiative.

Dates for the first eight school streets have now been announced.

They aim to improve safety for children by making roads outside schools pedestrian and cycle-only zones during opening and closing times.

School streets in nutshell

They are being introduced outside eight schools in Richmond for 12 months and involve timed closures to motor traffic outside schools.

Residents will be consulted as the trial is taking place and can provide feedback on the council's consultation page.

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. There may be a physical barrier such as a bollard preventing access.

Any vehicles already parked in a zone will be able to exit.

In future, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras may be installed and details of how to register exemptions will be made available at that time.

Residents and businesses who live and work on a school street will be exempt from the closure, as well as Blue Badge holders.

The scheme will not operate in the school holidays or at weekends.

"We have been working with schools in the borough to promote active travel for a number of years, however many schools and parents are still concerned by road safety and air pollution around schools," Richmond Council said.

"We receive many requests for general traffic management and safety improvements that are demonstrated to not be justified, given finite resources, in terms of accidents, speeds and traffic flows.

"However, a more moderate approach is taken near schools recognising the particular concerns there are towards children's safety, active travel and exposure to pollution. It is hoped that some of these concerns will be addressed by reducing the number of vehicles at school start and finish times.

"By temporarily closing roads outside the school, we hope to create a safer, more pleasant environment around the school. We aim to reduce congestion and pollution levels as well. The schemes are being proposed under an experimental traffic order to be able to monitor any impacts before considering making the schemes permanent."

The first school streets are being introduced across the next three Mondays.

Orleans Park Primary

This Monday, September 21, will see a school street created along Hartington Road from the junction with Crown Road into the cul de sac.

It will be in force Monday to Friday, 8.15-9.45am and 2.30 to 4pm, term time only.

Signs will warn drivers of the days and times when the school street is enforced and shared ANPR cameras are being planned as a permanent solution in the future.

St Stephen's Primary

It will see Winchester Road pedestrianised from its junction with St Margaret's Grove into the cul de sac.

The school street will be in operation Monday to Friday, 8.15 to 9.45am and 2.30 to 4pm during term time.

Retractable barriers and volunteers will enforce the road closures to begin with.

GEMS Twickenham Primary Academy

The school street will run on Colne Road from the junction with Albion Road to the junction with Marsh Farm Road.

It will be in place Monday to Friday, 8.20-9am and 3.30-4.15pm in term time. Retractable barriers and volunteer will enforce it.

More school streets

The following Monday (September 28), school streets will be coming to St Richard Reynold Catholic College and Stanley Primary School.

Hampton Infants and Nursery School, Holy Trinity CoE Primary School and The Richmond Upon Thames School will get school streets on Monday, October 5.

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