A list of upcoming school streets has been published in a report set to go before Lewisham’s overview and scrutiny business panel next week (November 24). 

The report provides the committee with an update on the recent changes to the Lewisham and Lee Green low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) and on other measures the council is taking to “support safer walking, cycling, and social distancing” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.  

See related: Council announces changes to Lewisham and Lee Green LTN

The measures are being funded through the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund – £250 million was announced in May, while another £75 million was added after a deal with Transport for London (TfL) that covers the rest of 2020/21.  

The deal also partially re-instates Local Implementation Plan (LIP) funding, money given to councils for projects that support the Mayor of London’s transport strategy, with £23 million approved for the programme. Lewisham is set to receive £761,000. 

School streets, which close off sections of road outside or near schools either all day or at pick up and drop off times, form part of the emergency measures.  

They aim to provide a safe space for children entering or leaving school. 

The closures are usually enforced with physical barriers or automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. 

Schools with narrow footpaths, higher traffic volumes, and higher pupil numbers were given priority.  

So far, Adamsrill Primary School, All Saints CE School, Ashmead Primary School, Conisborough College, Deptford Green School, John Ball School, Kelvin Grove Primary School, Prendergast Ladywell School, Sir Francis Drake School, and Tidemill Academy School have joined the scheme.  

In the coming weeks, they are set to be joined by Athelney, St William of York, St John the Baptist, Lucas Vale, Holbeach, and Coopers Lane. 

More are set to join the programme in January 2021, when the council receives the “necessary camera enforcement equipment”. 

These include Gordonbrock, Elliot Bank, Rushey Green, Brindishe Green, Haseltine, Rathfern, Kilmorie, Myatt Garden, Holy Cross, and Good Shepherd.  

“Unfortunately, due to the national shortage of camera equipment these delivery timescales are longer than initially anticipated,” according to the report.  

The report also states that the council is working on implementing school streets in the Lee Green area “as soon as possible”, “given the recent changes” to the LTN.  

There are a number of schools, including Torridon and Sandhurst, where it has not been possible to implement school streets “due to feasibility and funding constraints”.  

The council, according to the report, is considering other measures for schools who were interested in joining the programme, such as widening footways temporarily, coloured surfacing on roads to help improve awareness of the school, slowing speeds, and improving safety for people walking and cycling.  

A further eight schools have asked for school streets, but will have to wait until more funding becomes available.