Bristol School Streets: Wansdyke Primary School

Wansdyke Primary School in Whitchurch was one of the council’s first pilot schools launched as part of the Bristol School Streets scheme.

The main aims of the Bristol School Streets pilot are to:

  • reduce the volume of traffic around the school gates.
  • improve road safety for pupils and their families.
  • encourage more pupils to walk, scoot or cycle to school.
  • improve the air quality and environment at the school gates, making it a more pleasant space for everyone.

Bristol City Council worked closely with Wansdyke Primary School and launched the scheme in February 2020 as a trial.  Following a formal consultation that took place between 28 October 2021 and 19 November 2021, the decision was made to make the scheme permanent by the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order. This came into effect on 14 March 2022.

This involved making School Close, directly outside of Wansdyke Primary School, into a pedestrian and cycle only zone, for short periods at the beginning and end of the school day. The timings of the closure are 08:30 – 09:15 in the morning, and 14:45 – 15:30 in the afternoon, from Monday to Friday and during term-time only.

Wansdyke School Streets map showing the Pedestrian and Cycle only zone

  • The scheme is active on weekdays, during term-time for 45 minutes in the morning at school start time and 45 minutes in the afternoon at school end time. The exact timings of the closure are between 08:30 – 09:15 in the morning, and 14:45 – 15:30 in the afternoon, from Monday to Friday and during term-time only.

  • The scheme is enforced by the police. The penalty for ignoring the prohibition is a fixed penalty notice. Advanced warning signs have been installed, and temporary barriers placed at the entrance to the scheme during times of operation. All vehicles already parked in the zone before the times of operation are able to exit without incurring a fixed penalty notice.

  • 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: https://travelwest.info/bristol-school-streets-resident-and-carer-permit-information/

    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.

  • Yes – if you are a carer who regularly supports a resident within the zone, you may eligible for an exemption. Please email us to let us know about your personal situation.

  • Blue Badge holders are exempt from the scheme. We ask Blue Badge holders to 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.

  • School staff need to be inside the School Street zone area before it comes into operation. Only staff who have a Blue Badge are exempt. School staff are able to leave the zone during the times of operation without requiring an access permit

  • Parents or carers dropping children at school will not be eligible for an exemption, unless you or your child are a Blue Badge holder or resident within the School Street. We are pleased that parents at our Bristol School Streets schools are embracing the scheme and are choosing to walk, cycle or scoot where possible.

  • We are working with the school to promote active travel to school, which includes walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting. We also look at identifying suitable park and stride locations, enabling parents and carers to park slightly further away from the school and walk the remaining distance.

  • Evidence suggests that where School Streets have been implemented, the result is a reduction in car use rather than displacement to surrounding streets. We will continue to monitor the impact of the scheme now it has been implemented.

  • The road outside school should be visibly calmer and feel safer during these times. Data has been collected before the scheme was implemented and will be monitored now the measures are in place, so we can assess the change in traffic levels and how pupils are travelling to school.

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