A mum-of-two who lives in a ‘school street’ in Belsize Park says the restrictions are not as scary as they first seemed.

Francesca Agostini admits that “as a parent” she was in favour of Camden Council restricting traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times in parts of Lyndhurst Gardens and Belsize Lane last year.

But she claims that as a resident of one of these streets, she was “a bit worried” about traffic displacement nearby.

The scheme was introduced on an 1- month trial basis to improve safety around Maria Montessori School – where Francesca’s children are enrolled – and St Christopher’s School.

It means that only vehicles registered to homes and businesses can travel down designated streets at certain times, as well as parents with a Blue Badge and emergency services.

A consultation on the scheme before it was put in place found that more respondents opposed it than supported it.  

But a year after the scheme’s introduction, Francesca, who volunteers for charity Green School Runs, claims she no longer hears any concerns from neighbours.

She said: “At the time, there was quite strong opposition on the neighbourhood WhatsApp group.

“But now, the topic has completely disappeared. We realised that these restrictions cover only about 7% of the whole year – so it seemed scarier than it was.”

Francesca claims the restrictions have transformed the school run into a “completely different experience”.

Ham & High: The school run side-by-side: June 2021 (left) and April 2024 (right)The school run side-by-side: June 2021 (left) and April 2024 (right) (Image: Francesca Agostini)

She said: “We used to have cars bumper-to-bumper in front of the school, and now children can almost be on the street and not risk anything.

“I think sometimes children get lost in the narrative, with parents complaining and residents complaining without taking a step back.

“This is something for the children, it’s not against drivers.

“I think these issues are becoming too political and divisive. Traffic has now become such a part of culture wars.”

The mum-of-two admitted that restrictions might mean people having to “give up some freedom” as the price of a quieter street.

But she claimed school streets have a “good balance” in terms of not inconveniencing people too much compared with other traffic schemes such as LTNs.  

Francesca, who is also a volunteer project manager at Hampstead Neighborhood Forum, added: “It’s a trial, and it goes through reviews.

“So, to oppose it straight away without witnessing the results – I don’t know if that’s the right approach.”