New ‘school street’ scheme to be trialled

New measures to improve school run safety are due to be introduced on a trial basis at a Leicester school next week.

The city council is set to introduce experimental ‘school street’ measures that will prohibit general traffic from entering roads immediately adjacent to St John the Baptist CofE Primary School, in Clarendon Park, during busy school run times.

The new school street is being introduced at the request of residents and the wider school community to improve road safety and reduce traffic congestion at the beginning and end of the school day.

Under the new measures, road closure points will be introduced at the junction of The Avenue and Knighton Park Road, and the junctions of East Avenue and Central Avenue with Clarendon Park Road, to prohibit access to motor vehicles, except for those holding exemptions.

The no-entry points will be marked with traffic cones and managed by traffic marshals.

No waiting restrictions will also be introduced on parts of Clarendon Park Road, between its junction with busy London Road and the zebra crossing close to the school gates.

The new restrictions will only operate during school run times – between 8.15am and 9am and 2.45pm and 3.30pm – from Monday to Friday.

Changes will come into effect from Tuesday 2 June, after the schools’ half-term break.

Residents in the affected streets can apply for an exemption if they want to enter the area during the times of operation.

The new school street measures at St John the Baptist Primary School will be introduced under an experimental traffic order, which can be altered or stopped if necessary, and will be closely monitored. If successful, the changes could be made permanent.

A public consultation found that 90 per cent of respondents felt that school run traffic close to St John the Baptist Primary School was a problem, with over 60 per cent supporting the proposal to pilot a new school street.

The school has also launched a ‘park and stride’ scheme that allows parents and carers to park in selected private car parks just a short way from the school and walk the final few minutes to the school gate.

Trudie Colotto, headteacher at St John the Baptist Primary School, said: “A school street creates a safer, healthier and more welcoming environment for our children at the busiest times of the day. By reducing traffic outside the school gates, we can help protect pupils from pollution and road danger, while encouraging walking, cycling and active travel.

“It gives children the opportunity to arrive and leave school feeling calm, confident and safe, and we hope it will be a huge success."

Cllr Geoff Whittle, assistant city mayor for environment and transport, said: “We’ve seen in other parts of the city how the introduction of school street measures can have a very positive impact at the school gates during the busy school run times.

“School streets mean cleaner air, less congestion and a safer environment for children as they go to and from school.

“We’ve also seen how school streets can help families adopt healthier habits, with a significant increase in the number of children walking and cycling to school.

“This new trial scheme will be introduced under an experimental traffic order that allow us to test the new measures and listen to feedback before any permanent changes are made.”

The experimental traffic order can be viewed at www.leicester.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/traffic-regulation-orders-and-notices

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Leicester City Council News - Published on Thursday, May 28, 2026