Have your say on new school streets proposals

Residents are now able to share their views on Oxfordshire County Council’s proposals for more school streets initiatives, improving walking, wheeling and cycling experiences to some schools in Banbury, Carterton and Didcot. A survey about the proposals is open online at letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oxfordshire-school-streets until 13 October.

School streets is a popular programme in Oxfordshire, with nine schools so far implementing the temporary road closures around schools for most motor vehicles, during the school’s start and finish times. This creates safer, more welcoming spaces for children and encourages active travel to school, reducing congestion and improving air quality for local residents.

The council is asking for views about school streets proposals for the following schools:

• Banbury – Harriers Banbury Academy
• Carterton – Edith Moorhouse Primary School and St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
• Didcot – Willowcroft Community Primary School and St Birinus Boys School
• Oxford – extending the existing school street for Sandhills Community Primary School in Headington to include Delbush Avenue.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Transport said: “I am exceptionally proud of the success of our school streets programme and the great feedback we get from the schools benefitting from a school street. It’s an example of positive action to create a better environment for our children and young people.

“The benefits of an active journey to school are well known, helping set children up for a day of learning and boosting wellbeing. School streets bring extra safety and enjoyment to the final stretch of the school run.

“I look forward to hearing people’s thoughts on the proposals as this will help to shape the final plans so that they work best for everyone.” 

The county already has nine school streets – in Abingdon, Didcot, Headington, east Oxford, and south Oxford, with Larkrise Primary School in Oxford now benefitting from a 21 per cent reduction in car use for pupil travel to school.

School streets are enforced by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras. Residents on the designated school street, and some other vehicles, are still able to drive through it during times of operation – including emergency vehicles, public service vehicles and blue badge holders.

School streets are developed in collaboration with schools. They contribute to a school’s travel plan, which could also include initiatives such as Bikeability cycling training, and park and stride (where parents and carers who need to drive for that trip can walk into the school street from a designated parking site close by).

Residents can request a paper copy of the survey if required by calling our customer services team who will ask a member of the school streets team to contact you) or emailing us. Residents can also share their views by email.

Notes to editors

• Frequently asked questions about our Oxfordshire school streets proposal
• The school streets programme is part of the council’s countywide Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (LTCP). The travel to school policy (Policy number 11, page 53) was approved at the council's cabinet meeting on 21 June 2022. It contributes to its vision to make walking, cycling, public and shared transport the natural first choice for journeys. It supports the 2030 LTCP target of replacing or removing one out of every four current car trips in Oxfordshire. 
• School streets are also a part of the council’s sustainable school travel strategy for promoting sustainable travel to and from school and college across Oxfordshire. This supports its vision to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people by enabling active and sustainable travel to school and college on a safe, ecofriendly Oxfordshire transport system. The sustainable school travel strategy was approved at the council's cabinet meeting on the 17 September 2024.
• More about the school streets initiative on our website:  About School Streets | Oxfordshire County Council 
   

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