Purpose

To consider the outcome of the informal consultation at the five-pilot location for School Streets, and determine which, if any, should be progressed to implementation under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO).

Decision

DECISION MADE:

That

• School Streets be implemented under an ETRO in the locations specified in Melksham, Warminster, Calne.

• Queens Crescent be given further time to develop an alternative, supported Park and Stride location to alleviate local concerns.

• Consideration is given at a later date in Staverton and that prior to this investigation is made into potential highway improvement measures to improve the perception of road safety for those walking, wheeling and cycling to the two schools.

• Approve the list of legitimate exemptions, in addition to those statutory to a Traffic Regulation Order.

This decision was published on 10 June 2026 and will come into force on 18 June 2026.

Reasons for the decision

Many schools experience the inconvenience and risks associated with a high level of parking and vehicle manoeuvres at the beginning and end of the school day.  It is considered that a school street could be an additional measure to assist schools in addressing these concerns to assist in developing a formal policy, it was considered a pilot should be undertaken to determine future methods of identifying suitable schools sites.

Three sites provided substantial support for a school street; these are Aloeric Primary School in Melksham, Fynamore Primary School in Calne and Minster Primary School in Warminster. It is considered that these should be progressed

At Queen’s Crescent School in Chippenham, there has been a level of objection from those residents living outside the proposed extent of the school street, and the owner of the car park which is currently used as a park-and-stride location, and has been for an extended period of time, does not wish the car park to be promoted as part of the school street proposals.  The school is currently researching alternative facilities to allay some of these concerns and should an alternative location be found by the end of June, it is proposed that Queen’s Crescent is included in the pilot cohort. If a viable alternative is not identified, the location should be held in abeyance.

Substantive concerns were raised by residents in Staverton which centre around access for carers and deliveries.  The Primary School have attempted to alleviate these and proposed a change in the extent of the school street so that it commences west of the entrance to the school car park, with those parents at it, and the neighbouring Emmaus School, who wish to continue to drive to school being able to drive through the car park to drop / collect their child(ren) from the schools.  Upon review, it is considered this is contrary to the ethos of the key school street aim, which is to provide a significant reduction in vehicular traffic in the road(s) leading to a school site. School Streets are intended to provide environmental, safety and perceptual changes so that there is greater confidence in walking, wheeling and cycling to engrain positive attitudes to sustainable travel methods.  Consequently, it is proposed that the Staverton site is not included in the initial cohort of school streets but that the feasibility of mitigating engineering measures is investigated as a first step through the Taking Acton on School Journey initiative. This would not preclude reconsideration as future site, should the pilot be considered successful.

Alternative options considered

To:

(i)    Implement a school street at each of the five sites with the proposed permissible exemptions.

(ii)   Implement a school street at each of those sites where the consultation results give a clear message of support with the proposed permissible exemptions.

(iii)  Implement a school street at none of the sites.