Parents face a £70 fine if they break rules designed to improve road safety around schools in Cardiff. In January 2020 Cardiff council piloted the 'School Street' scheme to help reduce traffic around five school entrances.
By October that year, the scheme was fully implemented and made permanent - expanding to 16 schools added on a phased approach with 26 roads affected. School entrances are closed to vehicles during peak drop-off and pick-up times to help children access school safely, promote active travel and reduce air pollution, Cardiff Council explains on its website.
The roads are open at weekends and during school holidays. The council has previously explained that the schools selected for the scheme had regularly experienced problems with traffic and parking during school drop off and pick up times.
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Only vehicles with a valid permit - which lasts an academic year, from September 1 to July 31 - are allowed to enter the streets during restricted times. Drivers can apply for a School Street permit if they live or work on the street.
Blue Badge holders, carers and emergency vehicles are also allowed access to the streets during restricted times. More information can be found on the council's website.
It is an offence to enter or drive in an active School Street without a valid permit and the council uses enforcement cameras to monitor the areas. There is also permanent signage on the streets to remind drivers.
When the scheme was fully implemented in 2020, cabinet member for climate change Cllr Caro Wild said: "Every child has a right to arrive and depart school safely. Therefore the message is clear; please do not park inconsiderately outside school gates and put children and young people in danger.
"Instead use a means of active travel such as walking, cycling or scooting where possible and if you do have to drive to school, park further away from the school gates." He added: "Promoting active travel as the safest way to travel to school whilst helping to reduce congestion, improve air quality and respond to the ongoing issue of climate change."
If parents ignore the new scheme and drive down the closed roads to drop off their children, they will be issued a penalty charge notice of £70 which is reduced to £35 if the payment is made within 21 days. Here is the full list of schools involved, roads affected and restricted times.
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