Agenda item

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Cabinet Member for City Services, Councillor P Hetherton, considered a report in response to longstanding concerns from residents regarding school-related parking and congestion, Coventry City Council has implemented School Street restrictions at five locations across the city. The first scheme was introduced in February 2023 at Templars Primary School. Phase 2 followed in September 2024, extending the initiative to roads near Southfields Primary School, Ravensdale Primary School, Stanton Bridge Primary School, and Cardinal Wiseman Secondary School.

School Streets created temporary Pedestrian and Cycle Zones during peak school travel times—typically 30 minutes to 1 hour at the start and end of the school day. During these periods, motor vehicles are prohibited from entering the zone unless they hold a valid permit or exemption. The initiative aims to reduce congestion, improve safety for children walking, wheeling or cycling to school, and lower air pollution levels.

These restrictions address persistent traffic issues that, like many schools across the city, have affected the five locations for several years, despite previous mitigation efforts. All schemes were introduced under Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs), allowing an 18-month trial period before a decision is made on their permanence.

Following a successful trial, the Templars Primary School, School Street, was made permanent in June 2024. The four Phase 2 schemes have now completed one full academic year, and a decision is required on whether to retain or revoke these restrictions.

To support compliance, ANPR camera enforcement was introduced at all five sites in October 2024, following an initial six-week monitoring period. This enforcement remains in place and has contributed to improved adherence to the restrictions.

Monitoring and community engagement has been used to assist in evaluating Phase 2 schemes. Feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, citing noticeable improvements in the street environment and a safer, more welcoming space for active travel. Site observations corroborate these findings, showing reduced traffic volumes and congestion.

While resident feedback has generally supported the initiative, concerns were reported regarding enforcement and parking, particular on Potters Green Road. The Council continues to work collaboratively with residents, parents, and stakeholders to address emerging issues and provide tailored solutions where feasible.

Based on site assessments and having considered stakeholder feedback, this report recommends making the four Phase 2 School Street schemes permanent.

Additionally, the Council has secured external grant funding to launch Phase 3 of the School Streets programme in 2026. This next phase will be supported through Active Travel Fund 5 and the Local Network Improvement Programme. Three new sites have been identified: Holbrook Primary School (Gateside Road and Crown Green), Limbrick Wood Primary School (Bush Close), and Aldermoor Farm Primary School (Pinley Fields).

Officers responded in detail to the issues raised at the meeting, making the following comments:

• School Streets were enforced using APNR technology.  Exemptions to this existed for parents with specific access needs and local residents.
• The initial 4 School Streets had been identified as part of the ATR4 grant received by the Local Authority.  Following this, routes had been identified which were not busy through routes due to the impact and need to consider the knock-on effect on the wider traffic network.  Consideration had been given to the traffic safety risks and road safety records, active travel potential, locations with a strong level of community support and whether nearby businesses would be affected.  Equality considerations: ensuring the needs of all users had also been taken into consideration.
• Finham Primary School and Grange Farm Primary School would be considered in the 2^nd phase of School Streets.
• Traffic displacement to nearby streets was a concern however, positively, these concerns were largely unfounded.

Officers advised since the publication of the report feedback had been received to amend the morning operation time at the Cardinal Wiseman School Street.

The Cabinet Member for City Services, Councillor P Hetherton, welcomed the scheme, enforcing the importance of safety for the children arriving and departing from the schools.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Approves making the following experimental orders permanent:

• City of Coventry (East Street & South Street) (Pedestrianised School Street) (Experimental) Order 2024
• City of Coventry (Oliver Street) (Pedestrianised School Street) (Experimental) Order 2024
• City of Coventry (Potters Green Road) (Pedestrianised School Street) (Experimental) Order 2024
• City of Coventry (Ravensdale Road) (Pedestrianised School Street) (Experimental) Order 2024

2)  Approves the continued use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at all five School Streets to enable camera-based compliance monitoring of the School Streets restrictions.

3)  In recognition of the findings from phases 1 and 2 of the School Streets programme, approves the deployment of ANPR cameras to enable camera-based compliance monitoring of the three School Streets restrictions proposed to come forward as part of the phase 3 of Coventry's School Street programme as detailed in paragraph 2.36 and shown in Appendix E to the report.

4)  Notes the intention that as part of phase 3 of the School Streets programme, that the existing afternoon operational time at the Cardinal Wiseman School Street will be reduced by 15 minutes from a start time of 2:45pm to 3pm, in line with feedback from the local community and that existing parking restrictions at Cardinal Wiseman and Stanton Bridge Schools would be refreshed and reviewed, again in line with community feedback; including variation to the morning operational time at the Cardinal Wiseman School Street.

5)  Agrees to receive a further report in Spring 2027 providing an update on the first 12 months operation of phase 3 of the school streets programme in which a further review and analysis of the impact of phase 2 and the matters raised in this report will be considered and reviewed.