School Streets

There is a strong evidence base that supports the benefits of School Streets to both the school community and local residents. These benefits include:

• Reduced congestion and vehicles travelling through the School Streets zone
• Reduced air pollution around the school entrance with fewer engines idling
• Health benefits from more walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting
• Increased safety, through less inconsiderate parking and dangerous manoeuvres
• A calmer, safer and cleaner environment for all.

Using active forms of travel (such as walking, wheeling, cycling or scooting) to get to and from school is supported by NHS Wales , which recognises specific health benefits for children, including:

• The importance of physical activity for mental and physical development
• The contribution of active journeys to school to children’s recommended daily physical activity needs
• Helping to develop children’s road sense and confidence in the company of a responsible adult
• Creating time to talk and check in as a family.

Even turning just one journey into an active journey every week or fortnight will bring benefits for individuals, members of the school community and members of the local community.

School Streets was first introduced in Scotland in 2015, and has since been implemented across the UK, including in Wales and Carmarthenshire.

In London, the Hackney School Streets programme introduced School Streets in a number of schools. The scheme was recognised as an industry leader by the National Transport Awards, Healthy Streets Awards and the Sustainable City Awards. It reported:

• More walking and cycling
  
  • Walking to school rates increased by up to 30%
  • Cycling to school rates increased by up to 51%
• Less traffic
  
  • The average decrease in traffic levels outside of school gates was 68%
• Improved air quality
  
  • Vehicle emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), PM10 and PM2.5 dropped by 74%.

Active School Travel - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)
Hackney School Streets Toolkit for Professionals

School Streets in Wales

School Streets schemes in Wales are supported by the Welsh Government. They are funded through the Safe Routes in Communities grant, which local authorities can currently submit applications for every year.

Safe Routes in Communities schemes are intended to improve accessibility and safety within communities, in particular to schools, and include School Streets schemes.
The key objectives of Safe Routes in Communities schemes are to:

• Increase levels of active travel among children travelling to school and in the wider community
• Improve the liveability of communities
• Improve the environment for walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting around schools.

There are a number of active School Streets schemes in Wales across a range of local authorities. School Streets schemes have been successfully implemented in schools within both rural and urban areas.
Carmarthenshire County Council already has two School Streets schemes in place. Other local authorities across Wales where School Streets schemes are already in place or in development include:

• Cardiff Council
• Torfaen County Borough Council
• Powys County Council

• Individual school context
• Local highway context 
• Existing local active travel (walking, wheeling and cycling) infrastructure
• History of ‘near miss’ accidents or reported collisions
• Whether an appropriate ‘Park and Stride’ location is available within a reasonable walking distance.

• Maes Y Morfa Primary School
• Burry Port Primary School

Maes Y Morfa Primary School

It is recognised that not all motor traffic can be restricted during the School Streets closure, and therefore certain exclusions are granted using permits. Prior authorisation is required to all vehicles needing access to the school premises during the prohibition times. 

Typically, school staff are granted access to the closed roads in order to access the school site. Residents of the roads that are included in the School Streets closure are also granted access. This is typically done through the use of permits for both school staff and residents.

Currently Carmarthenshire County Council manage permits associated with School Streets schemes in-house, we are looking at using the MiPermit system in the near future.

Vehicle owners are able to apply for a digital permit by completing an application form. See below information on how to apply. 

Any vehicle that enters the zone during the scheme’s operating hours that has not been granted an exemption (and has secured a current digital permit) will be automatically issued a penalty charge notice (PCN).

You can apply for a School Street permit if you live within a School Street and your vehicle is registered or kept at your address.

To apply, you will need:

• Council Tax or 1 proof of residency for each resident who has a vehicle
• Proof of ownership or entitlement to the use of the vehicle

Please email TSResidentsParking@Carmarthenshire.gov.uk for an application form.

Please be advised, you cannot apply for exemption unless your address is listed on the form below.

Exemption Addresses

Information Leaflet

Please see our most frequently asked questions and answers on the School Streets Scheme webpage here: 

School Streets Scheme FAQs