Albion Drive - Queensbridge Primary School - School Streets proposal

Overview

Hackney Council is gathering views on a proposed School Street scheme to improve local air quality and make it safer and easier for children to walk and cycle to school. Albion Drive would become a timed pedestrian and cycles only zone at school opening times and closing times whilst maintaining access for residents, pedestrians and cyclists. The purpose is to tackle congestion at the school gates and improve the environment for sustainable travel to school. Residents who live on the street will be able to register for an exemption so they can still get to and from their homes by vehicle.

Why we are consulting

The Council is committed to making Hackney’s roads safer and healthier for everyone living in, working in and visiting the borough. These changes aim to create an environment that will encourage more walking and cycling, improve air quality and reduce road danger. This can only be achieved by reducing the dominance of the private vehicle. Poor air quality resulting from vehicle emissions is finally being recognised for the damage it inflicts upon the health of the city with nearly 10,000 Londoners dying early every year as a result (King’s College London, 2015). Our Transport Strategy includes a number of actions that this scheme will help to achieve:

• LN3: Improving air quality – Tackles poor air quality by reducing NO2 and PM10 emissions.
• LN10: School Clean Air Zones – Aims to develop and secure funding for projects to improve air quality in and around the borough’s schools. School Streets is one such project.
• LN15: Filtered Streets – Reduces motor traffic on residential streets by the use of road closures or one-way systems to create safer walking and cycling conditions.
• LN20: School Streets – Roads are closed outside schools during certain times of the day.

The Council has introduced School Streets at nine schools in the borough.

Results from five pilot schemes show a reduction in traffic in the School Streets, more parents and children walking and cycling to school and fewer driving. Based on the generally good results and positive feedback we have seen, we are rolling out the scheme to more schools. The Mayor of Hackney has committed to delivering 17 School Streets by 2022.

Queensbridge Primary School has been selected as a potential recipient of a School Street. Reducing the use of the private car for journeys to school and reducing the volume of traffic on Albion Drive should:

• reduce road danger from traffic
• reduce pollution around the school gates from idling vehicles
• promote more walking, cycling and active lifestyles for pupils and parents or carers.

How will it work?

Albion Drive, from the junction with Queensbridge Road to the junction with Albion Square, will be made a pedestrian and cycles only zone for 45 minutes, twice a day at school opening and closing times.

• Vehicles will be banned from entering the street between these times unless they have been given an exemption.
• Residents living in Albion Drive, at addresses between the junction with Queensbridge Road and the junction with Albion Square, will be able to register for an exemption.
• Parents or carers can register for an exemption to drop their children off to school if they or their child are a blue badge holder.
• We’ll put up signs to inform drivers of the restrictions before the entrance to the closed street.
• Non-registered vehicles entering the street during the times of operation will be identified by camera and automatically issued a fixed penalty charge notice.

For details of the proposal please refer to the drawing below.

Have your say

Your views are important to us and will help the Council to make a decision.

A questionnaire can be accessed using the link below to give your views on the outlined proposals.

What happens next

Your feedback will help us reach a decision on whether to proceed with these proposals. The results will be available at www.hackney.gov.uk/school-streets

Should the Council agree to proceed with these proposals, residents and businesses will receive a letter to inform them about the start date for the scheme with details of how to register a vehicle or vehicles for exemption. Public notices advising the changes will be displayed in the street.

FAQ

Q. What times would the restrictions be in force?

A. 8:30am – 9:15am and 3:00pm - 3:45pm during school terms. They won’t be in force during school holidays or on weekends.

Q. I’m a parent/carer at the school, can I apply for an exemption?

A. Parents or carers dropping children at school will not be eligible for an exemption. You can only be granted an exemption if you or your child are a blue badge holder.

Q. Which vehicles will not be allowed to enter the street?

A. All vehicles that have not been added to the exemptions list will not be permitted to enter the street during the School Street times. This includes vehicles driven by visitors, tradespeople or couriers and car club vehicles.

Q. What if I’m already parked inside the School Street zone when the timings are in force?

A. All vehicles that are already in the zone when the timings are in force will be able to exit the zone.

Q. How will the School Street be enforced?

A. Signage at the entrance to Albion Drive inform drivers of the restrictions. The zone will be enforced by camera and non-registered vehicles entering the zone during operating hours will be automatically issued a fixed penalty charge notice.