The Kestrel Mead Primary Academy – Infant site proposal
Leicester City Council have received complaints and concerns about the safety and welfare of pupils, their families and residents for a number of years.
The Council has invited local residents to complete a public opinion survey to understand what they feel about implementing a School Street as a way of resolving these issues. A public meeting is also being planned.
Families at the school will be invited to compete a similar public opinion survey.
If there is positive feedback from the survey and public meetings, the Council proposes to commence a trial which could be in place for up to 18 months, from when it launches. During the first six months of a trial period, members of the public will have an opportunity give feedback and request amendments or removal of the traffic restrictions.
The School Street for Kestrel Mead Primary Academy: Infant Site would be along Hazeldene Road and Bramble Close, from the junction with Maidenwell Avenue.
The School Street would be accessible to pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles with exemptions. Other vehicles would be encouraged to park away from the school or to access the road at times outside of the school run period both in the mornings and afternoons.
If the School Street experiment starts, the Council will provide the school with information for families that details alternative travel to school options and suggestions for parking alternatives that are further away from school, to minimise parking on streets close to school.
The closure points will initially be marshalled by Highways Operatives, and then after by staff members from the school.
Please refer to Figure 1: Kestrel Mead Primary Academy Infant Site – School Street plan for the red zoned area indicating the prohibition of driving (School Street area).
Figure 1 also includes an area of footway parking prohibition (pavement parking ban), which is indicated by the orange zoned area in the plan.
A footway parking prohibition is a legal restriction that bans drivers from parking any wheel of a motor vehicle on a pedestrian footway or grass verge.
The pavement parking ban has been proposed to make the footway on streets around the school clearer of cars and more accessible for people who wish to walk or wheel to school, which includes people who use pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Full details of the road closure and exemptions, including how the School Street would operate, are available in the FAQs.
Figure 1: Kestrel Mead Primary Academy Infant Site – School Street plan
For residents, pupils, families and the school:
What hours will the School Street operate?
We are suggesting that the Kestrel Mead Primary Academy Infant Site – School Street to be in place between the hours of 08:00AM – 09:00AM and 14:30PM – 15:15PM Monday to Friday during term time. This will be confirmed after consultation.
Outside of these hours, access to the street will be unrestricted.
These operating hours will be monitored and if an amendment is required, this will be consulted on separately.
Who will operate the School Street?
In the first two weeks of its operation, the closure will be operated and supported by Highway Operatives and Leicester City Council staff. Whilst it is still experimental (for up to 18 months) staff at Kestrel Mead Primary Academy – Infant Site will be responsible for operating the school street closure.
Will it be camera operated?
Not in the first instance. If the School Street is deemed successful, a camera operated School Street will be consulted on, as an option for its continuation.
How will we know if it is successful?
We will undertake a series of monitoring activities to understand the impact of introducing the School Street. Data will be collected before and after the delivery of the School Street to assess whether there has been an improvement outside the school. Levels of traffic in the surrounding streets, and where parents are parking in the surrounding areas have been recorded to take action if traffic and parking is shifted to other locations, if the School Street is implemented.
Qualitative feedback will be collected from the school, parents and residents, alongside several observations during the trial period.
Will residents be allowed in the School Street?
Residents will be able to exit and enter the School Street when it is in place. School Street exemptions will be issued to residents and we will not be charging for these. Each household will be responsible for applying for their own exemptions. If the trial goes ahead, more information will be sent out to residents should the School Street trial plan to go ahead. Officers will visit each property to assist the residents in applying for a permit.
Who else will be allowed in the School Street?
Anyone who is already parked within the School Street is allowed to drive out.
With all School Street schemes, we acknowledge that there are vehicles that should be exempt from restrictions.
Our School Street exemptions are below:
The following vehicles would be automatically exempt:
An exemption upon application will be issued to:
Vehicles that would not be exempt, include:
Will the School Streets delay the response of emergency services?
Emergency service vehicles will be exempt from School Street restrictions, so they can access locations within a School Street zone and use roads in the zone to travel to emergencies at other locations. Emergency services have been engaged with as part of the consultation process.
What if I am expecting a delivery/contractor to my house within the school street hours?
Large delivery companies such as Amazon are acknowledging School Streets and their drivers are rescheduling their route to accommodate.
If possible, you should let your delivery company/contractor know in advance of the closure times.
Whilst we are keeping the timings of the closure as short as possible, we will welcome feedback from you on this if the School Street scheme is trialled.
Are there any other measures to reduce obstructive and dangerous parking around the school being put in place?
Residents have told us about obstructive and dangerous parking in the wider area. As part of a wider scheme to make the streets safer around Kestrel Mead Primary Academy – Infant Site we are proposing an experimental traffic order to make the School Keep Clear markings on Maidenwell Avenue enforceable and introducing a pavement parking ban on Foxglove Road, Sorrel Road and Trefoil Close. See Figure 1: Kestrel Mead Primary Academy Infant Site – School Street plan for visual details of this.
