New Whetstone 'school street' proposed

A public consultation has launched on plans for the school street in the area surrounding St John’s Primary School, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet Council has proposed a new ‘school street’ in Whetstone to ensure pupils can walk and cycle to school in a “safer environment”.

A public consultation has launched on plans for the school street in the area surrounding St John’s Primary School.

Swan Lane, the road affected, would be closed to general traffic during school drop off and pick up times, from 8am-9am and 3pm-4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time only.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be used to enforce the closure.

Barnet Council has already implemented nine school streets and is trialling nine others.

Depending on the consultation, Swan Lane will begin an 18-month trial, during which residents will be able to comment. After the trial a review will be carried out to alter, remove or retain the scheme.

Residents are being encouraged to fill in a questionnaire which asks how supportive they are of the plan and their reasoning.

The council said the school would “benefit” from being included in its school street schemes and that roads around schools were a “priority” area for making streets “safer and cleaner”.

The council said: “The schemes also help to prevent potential conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians, crowding from pupils and parents outside school gates, as well as preventing the potential of young children being forced onto the roads with traffic.”

 Residents have until Friday, 4th July to fill in the questionnaire.

For further information and to take part in the consultation:
Visit St John’s C.E. Primary and Nursery School School Street

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