Project Category: Walking

Victoria Avenue is closed to vehicle traffic between 8:30am and 9:15am in the morning and 3:10 and 3:50pm in the afternoon, Monday to Friday, during term-time only. During these times only emergency services vehicles and Blue Badge holders are permitted to access Victoria Avenue.

To help facilitate the School Street, a one-way system has been introduced on Victoria Avenue in a westbound direction,  travelling away from Avonvale Road.  The one-way system is in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The reasons for introducing the one-way system was firstly to allow residents to be able to exit Victoria Avenue during the road closure periods. Secondly, the introduction of the one-way also helps to prevent motorists from driving down Victoria Avenue and getting trapped when discovering the road closure, and therefore having to make dangerous turns in the road.  The one-way system is in place 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Residents within the School Streets zone are able to exit their road during the zone’s operational hours without requiring an access permit.

If you live in the School Street zone and require access during the times of operation, you can apply for one here.

Where possible, we encourage all motorists to avoid driving in the zone when in operation. If driving in the zone, we ask that you do so at no more than 5mph.

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The scheme is active on weekdays, during term time for 45 minutes in the morning at school start time and 50 minutes in the afternoon at school end time. The exact timings of the closure are between 08:30am and 09:15am in the morning and 2:40pm and 3:30pm in the afternoon, from Monday to Friday, during term-time only.

The Bristol School Streets pilot scheme launched in late May 2021 as an experimental trial lasting for up to 18 months.

Following a formal consultation, the decision was made to make the scheme permanent by the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order. This came into effect on 31 October 2022.

The streets should be visibly calmer and feel safer during these times. Data was collected both before the scheme was implemented and during, and includes modes of travel to school survey data, traffic counts, collision data, parking surveys and feedback from the school and local community.

In addition, an 8-month public consultation took place from 27 May 2021 enabling people to formally comment on the scheme. Together with the monitoring data mentioned above, these comments were considered before the decision was made to make the scheme permanent.

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Blue Badge holders are exempt from the scheme and can use Victoria Avenue to access their properties when needed. We ask that Blue Badge holders display their Blue Badge clearly in the windscreen of their vehicle and they may be stopped and asked to confirm their details on some occasions.

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We are asking people with additional access requirements and those with disabilities to contact the team on [email protected] to discuss any personal access needs as they may be eligible for an exemption permit.

No – parents or carers dropping children at school will not be eligible for an exemption. You can only be granted an exemption if you are a resident of Victoria Avenue or if you or your child are a blue badge holder. We are pleased that the majority of parents are embracing the scheme and are choosing to walk, cycle or scoot where possible.

Yes – if you are a carer who regularly supports a resident within the zone, you may be eligible for an exemption. Please visit our resident and carer permit page, which includes details on how to apply

A Bristol School Streets phone line has been set up to accommodate exceptional requests where access is required at a given time. The number is 0117 357 6228. By calling this number you can speak with a member of the Bristol School Streets project team to arrange for an exemption. We ask that you try and give the team 24 hours notice on any access requirements.