Region: Bristol

To reduce traffic danger and congestion in the area, Bristol City Council is proposing to turn Coombe Road, Freeland Buildings and a section of East Park into walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting-only zones at school start and finish times.

Please note, a permanent one-way system has also been proposed to extend the current one-way on East Park. This one-way system would be in place 24 hours and 7 days a week.

Vehicles would not be permitted to enter the zone from 8.25am to 9.10am in the morning and from 3.05pm to 3.55pm in the afternoon. Emergency vehicles, Blue Badge holders and residents of Coombe Road, Freeland Buildings and the section of East Park would be exempt from these restrictions.

The scheme can be enforced by the police. The penalty for ignoring the prohibition is a fixed penalty notice. Advanced warning signs would be installed, and temporary barriers placed at the entrance to the scheme and monitored by school staff. All vehicles already parked in the zone before the times of operation would be able to exit without incurring a fixed penalty notice.

School Streets will make it easier for Blue Badge holders to access the school entrances by reducing traffic outside the school gates. Those holding valid Blue Badges will be exempt from the restrictions, but existing parking restrictions (e.g. double yellow lines) still apply. We will 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.

We would ask people with additional access requirements and those with disabilities to contact the Bristol School Streets team to discuss any personal access needs as they may be eligible for an exemption 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, resident of Coombe Road, Freeland Buildings or the section of East Park, or have access needs. We are pleased that parents at our existing Bristol School Streets schools are embracing the scheme and are choosing to walk, cycle or scoot where possible.

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

Bristol School Streets aims to encourage and prioritise a safe environment around schools to allow for walking, cycling and scooting. Parents and carers who feel they need to drive will need to park legally nearby and walk the remainder of the journey.

We are working with the school to promote active travel to school, which includes walking, wheeling, cycling and scooting. We are also looking 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 would continue to monitor the impact of the scheme once it has been implemented.

Coombe Road, Freeland Buildings and the section of East Park should be visibly calmer and feel safer during these times. Data will be collected before the scheme is implemented and monitored once the measures are in place, so we can access the change in traffic levels and how pupils are travelling to school. We will continue to review feedback from the school and local community.

Bristol City Council would like to hear your views on the proposals which can be done by taking part in a short survey. The survey can be accessed by clicking the link below and will close on the 23^rd March 2026.

• Complete the survey