'School streets' for two local primaries

Enfield Council has issued a Road Traffic Act notification announcing its intention to create 'school streets' for two primary schools - Oakthorpe in Palmers Green and St Monica's in Southgate. Both schools are located in dead ends - Oakthorpe in Tile Kiln Lane (off Tottenhall Road and Chequers Way) and St Monica's in Cannon Road, off Cannon Hill.

The effect of the planned order would be to prohibit motor vehicles from entering or leaving Tile Kiln Lane and Cannon Road during certain times of the day, with exemptions for residents of the streets, school staff and other people qualifying for permits.

School Street hours (Mondays to Fridays)

The Oakthorpe School scheme was consulted on in 2017 and followed a trial scheme during 2016, which was signed but not enforced. Despite the lack of enforcement, the trial resulted in a reduction in traffic of approximately 40 per cent at school drop-off and pick-up times. The scheme resulting from the consultation includes a new zebra crossing and changes to junction priorities.

A few objections were received to the original proposals. Parents whose children attended a nursery at the far end of Tile Kiln Lane wished to have access by car at all times. Weir Hall & District Ratepayers' Association were concerned about loss of on-street car parking. Better Streets for Enfield welcomed the school street (schools streets are one of the group's 'Five Asks') but raised concerns about the level of through traffic in vicinity of the school - unfortunately, a problem that cannot be fixed without an area-wide scheme to exclude through traffic using Wolves Lane and Tottenhall Road to access the Great Cambridge Roundabout.

The Cannon Road school street was part of the original Fox Lane Quieter Neighbourhood scheme that was announced in November 2018.

The deadline for objecting to the notifciation is 11th December. The implementation date for the two schemes has not been published.