Barnes Primary School Street pilot update
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Welcome to Bridged2050: ideas for living well and responsibly in a climate-ready Barnes
Richmond Council has written to residents affected by the Barnes Primary School Street pilot. The letter clarifies the core components of the scheme:
Separate Schemes: School Streets and Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are independent initiatives with different operating hours.
Access guidance: Restrictions only affect those entering the scheme; vehicles are free to exit the zone at any time.
No ANPR enforcement: The scheme is not currently enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
Digital permits: The letter itself serves as a resident’s permit; there is no requirement to display a physical permit in your vehicle.
The letter also provides more granular detail regarding who is eligible for an exemption.
Notes & thoughts
The council’s communication throughout this pilot has been very good. From the initial local engagement to the recent mail, the messaging has been clear and useful, a process bolstered by the school’s own proactive management of the transition.
Two aspects of this latest update are particularly striking:
The council has adopted a ‘better angels’ philosophy toward this trial. The tone of the exemption list suggests a governing body providing clear direction while subtly signaling: ‘Please use your common sense and do not abuse this.’ For example, the list of valid exemptions includes,
Exceptional deliveries, such as emergency call-outs (e.g., burst water pipes, gas leaks), heavy deliveries (e.g., appliances or building materials), and emergency deliveries (e.g., refrigerated or timed medication), although this is not an exhaustive list because the council cannot predict every circumstance.
(Italics by Bridged)
Despite the nuance, the council still felt the need to emphasise the scheme’s primary mission, stating,
The council would like to reiterate that School Streets are a road safety scheme aimed at making peak-time journeys safer and more pleasant for pupils, parents, carers, and residents within the scheme.
Is the pilot working?
The short answer is yes.
A small number of drivers continue to ignore the restrictions in the morning, the young children in the back often give the game away. It is, of course, possible these drivers live within the zone and are heading to work after the drop-off.
Some non-compliance is more evident. One particularly distinctive car—spotted on both days that traffic was being monitored—was nowhere to be found in the area later that night or over the following weekend, suggesting it belongs to a visitor rather than a resident.
That aside these time and area-bound restrictions appear to be having a positive effect. Bridged believes they will be more common by 2050 so it is important we learn from each of these interventions.
Further updates as this pilot develops
