School Streets

What are School Streets?

School streets are pioneering schemes to transform roads outside schools, so that pedestrians and cyclists can use them safely at school start and finish times. The Mayor of Tower Hamlets has an aspiration to develop 50 School Streets by 2022. We want to create areas where children can safely walk or wheel to and from school. School streets aim to encourage activity, reduce pollution and help growth, learning and development.

Each school will have different proposals, but all will feature greenery to improve air quality and the environment for everyone. Staff, residents and businesses will still be able to access the area while making it safer and quieter for the school and the community.

Why do we need School Streets?

Improve road safety Unfortunately, children are some of the most vulnerable road users. We will look at the design of the roads and pavements to make it as safe as possible for children on the way to school. Find out what’s happening at your school at www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/schoolstreets

Protect children from pollution Harmful air pollution affects the health and wellbeing of children and most schools in Tower Hamlets are exposed to motor vehicle traffic fumes. Children’s lung capacity can be reduced by breathing toxic air which can affect all organs in their body and their long-term health. Green walls, trees and gardens can absorb noise and pollution with some roads outside schools closed to traffic at drop-off and pick-up times. Find out more about our Breathe Clean campaign.

Encourage active travel Busy roads can make it feel unsafe to walk and cycle. We can widen pavements, introduce crossings and calm traffic to allow more children to safely walk, scoot and cycle. Where possible, schools can provide space for storing bikes and scooters safely. Find out more on the Tower Hamlets website.

Have your say

We'd love to hear your views on the second phase of School Streets proposals:

• Bygrove, Lansbury Lawrence and Mayflower Primary Schools

If you require another format of any plan or explanation of the design proposals, e-mail schoolstreets@towerhamlets.gov.uk

The first phase of School Streets to be implemented in autumn 2020 included:

• Ben Jonson Primary and Harry Roberts Nursery, Stepney Green – road closures to motor vehicles (except residents) at drop-off and pick-up times
• Blue Gate Fields Junior, Shadwell – new zebra crossing
• Elizabeth Selby Infants and Lawdale Junior, Bethnal Green – Old Bethnal Green Road filters to reduce through-traffic, changes in Pollard Street outside school gates to follow
• English Martyrs Primary, Whitechapel – improved pavements, one-way system and road closures to motor vehicles (except residents) at drop-off and pick-up times
• Globe Town Primary, Bethnal Green - road closures to motor vehicles (except residents) at drop-off and pick-up times
• Malmesbury Primary, Bow - road closures to motor vehicles (except residents) at drop-off and pick-up times

Your feedback will help us reach a decision on whether to proceed with these proposals. The results will be published here and on the Tower Hamlets School Streets page.

Should the Council proceed with these proposals, residents, businesses and schools will receive a letter to inform them about the start date of the scheme and registering a vehicle for exemption. Public notices advising of the changes will be displayed on street.

Due to high levels of consultation responses, we will not be able to individually respond to all replies.

The Council will use the information you provide for the purpose of this proposal. We will not share the information with other Council departments or external bodies. We will always process your information in accordance with the law.

For more information on the basis on which we process, use and store your information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.