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Following a public consultation in February 2026, we have decided to go ahead with the School Street as originally proposed, launching on 18 May 2026. For more information on this decision, please read 'Outcomes of the public consultation', further down the page.
Essential vehicle access
Essential vehicles and valid permit holders will still have access during operating hours. Please read 'Who can access during timed restrictions'. Permit applications open 1 May 2026.
Please subscribe to our e-newsletter to keep informed of the official launch date and for permit application reminders.
Use this page to find out more about the new School Street outside St Stephen's Primary Church School. The scheme is launching on Monday 18 May 2026.
About the School Street
We are working with parents and staff at St Stephen's Primary Church School to introduce a School Street on the north end of Beacon Road.
The aim is to create a safer, calmer environment outside the school gates, and encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling.
Timed vehicle restrictions
To create the School Street, we will restrict motor vehicle access on the north end of Beacon Road (between the junctions of Richmond Place and Richmond Lane) during the times set out below. Essential access is maintained for those that need it.
School Street operating times:
Mornings: 8:15am to 9am
Afternoons: 3pm to 3:45pm
Monday to Friday, term-time only.
There are no homes or properties apart from the school on this stretch of road and alternative routes are available to access the surrounding area.
Map showing the extent of the School Street, the location of temporary barriers and position of School Street signage.
How the School Street will be managed
Clear signage (a legal requirement) will be installed at all entry points to the School Street to show when restrictions are in operation. The proposed sign locations are shown on the map above.
Trained volunteer and school stewards will be present during operating hours to welcome families, put up and remove temporary barriers (stored at the school), and manage access for authorised vehicles and permit holders. They may ask for professional ID from drivers of authorised vehicles, and they will check the vehicle registrations of digital permit holders against an official list.
See below for who can access the School Street during operating hours. If you require essential access, you may need to apply for an exemption permit.
Illustration of a Pedestrian and Cycle Zone sign typically used at the entrance of School Streets promoting the timed restrictions
Benefits of a School Street
Fewer vehicles outside the school gates, reducing the risk of collisions and improving the safety of children
Safer and more pleasant walking, cycling and wheeling routes
More children travelling actively
Better physical health and focus in class
A calmer start and end to the school day
A calmer environment for residents living in or near school streets due to fewer vehicles
On school days from 8:15am to 9am and from 3pm to 3:45pm we will restrict access for most vehicles outside the school on Beacon Road (between the junctions of Richmond Place and Richmond Lane).
Through traffic cannot gain access, except in an emergency, but authorised vehicles and permit holders will still have access to the school where necessary.
There are no homes or properties on this stretch of the street, apart from the school, and alternative routes are available to the surrounding area. Drivers can access the school car park from Richmond Lane.
Please expand the following sections to find out who would be able to access the School Street during timed restrictions.
Authorised vehicles not requiring a permit
The following do not need a permit to access the school via this section of Beacon Road:
Vehicles displaying a Blue Badge who require access to the school
Emergency services (e.g. police, fire, ambulance)
Statutory service vehicles (e.g. water/sewerage companies)
Council-organised school transport
Drivers of authorised vehicles may be required to show evidence, such as a professional identification card or blue badge, before entering a School Street.
Groups eligible to apply for permits
Where vehicle access to the school is necessary via this section of Beacon Road, the following groups can apply:
Parents or carers of a child with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP)
Individuals, parents and carers with a short-term accessibility need or an exceptional circumstance
Visitors providing essential school services (e.g. a school nurse or specialist music or sports tuition)
Schools/trusts for their official school transport
Residents living on a School Street would normally be eligible to apply for permits. However, on this stretch of Beacon Road, there are no homes.
Groups that are not usually granted permits
For safety reasons, we do not usually grant permits to the following:
Parents
School staff
Employees of local businesses
Delivery drivers in private (i.e. non-company) vehicles
Residents who do not live on the School Street
Apply for an exemption permit
The application process opens from 1 May 2026.
Permits are digital and issued free of charge to eligible applicants. They are linked to a vehicle's registration, so you need one permit per vehicle.
You do not need a permit if you drive an authorised vehicle. Please see ‘Authorised vehicles not requiring a permit', above, for more information.
If eligible, you only need a permit to access the School Street during operating hours and if no other route is possible.
If your application is successful, when you wish to enter the School Street during operating hours, stewards will check your vehicle registration against an official list.
Permits are valid until 31 July in the current school year, unless stated otherwise. Permit numbers may be capped.
!Warning Exemptions don't remove the requirements for a vehicle to comply with other restrictions on the road.
Expand the following sections to find out more on the different types of permits available.
EHCP and IHCP permits
These permits are for parents or guardians of a child with an education health and care plan (EHCP) or individual health care plan (IHCP). They allow you to drive into the School Street during operating hours when vehicle access to the school from Beacon Road is necessary.
Permits are linked to the vehicle's registration. You need one permit per vehicle.
Permits are valid until 31 July of the current school year or until the care plan expires (whichever is sooner).
To apply you will need to provide:
A completed application support form. You can request this from the school.
Short-term accessibility permit
These permits allow vehicle access to the school during School Street operating hours for people with specific short term accessibility needs. This may include a child or adult with a temporary injury or medical condition.
Permits are linked to the vehicle's registration. You need one permit per vehicle.
Permits are valid for a maximum of three months from the date of issue.
To apply you will need to provide:
A short statement explaining why you need vehicle access.
Evidence from a medical or other relevant professional, dated within the last four weeks.
Essential school visitor permit
These permits allow vehicle access from this stretch of Beacon Road during School Street operating hours for people providing vital services at, or to, the school. It is for people who are unable to access the site outside of those hours, and where the school supports the visit.
Please note that the school car park is accessible from outside the School Street on Richmond Lane.
Permits are linked to the vehicle's registration. You need one permit per vehicle.
Permits are valid until 31 July of the current school year. Or, for a reasonable period based on the evidence provided (if this is sooner).
To apply you will need to provide:
A short statement explaining why you need vehicle access to the School Street during operating hours.
A completed application support form. You can request this from the school.
Individual circumstances permit
These permits allow vehicle access to the School Street for people who do not meet the criteria for other permits, but who have a genuine and essential need to access the school or school street during operating hours.
Permits are linked to the vehicle's registration. You need one permit per vehicle.
Permits are valid until 31 July of the current school year. Or, for a reasonable period based on the evidence provided (if this is sooner)
To apply you will need to provide:
A short statement explaining why you need vehicle access to the School Street during operating times
Supporting evidence or documentation. For example, a supporting statement from a professional, employer or from the school leadership team
School transport vehicle permit
These permits allow access to the School Street during operating hours for vehicles owned or leased by the school or trust and used solely for school transport. For example, a school minibus.
Permits are linked to the vehicle's registration. You need one permit per vehicle.
Permits are valid until 31 July of the current school year.
To apply you will need to provide:
Proof of vehicle ownership, such as a V5C or lease agreement. This must show that the vehicle is registered to the school or academy/partnership trust.
These exemption permits only allow drivers with essential needs to reach the school during operating hours, when no other route or time is possible. They cannot be used to drive through the street to reach another road.
If you need information in an alternative or printed format, or you need support, please contact the team. Email us at school_streets@bathnes.gov.uk or call us on 01225 394 025.
Outcomes of the public consultation
During February 2026 we asked the school community, residents and businesses in the surrounding area to share their views on the School Street in a formal public consultation.
In April 2026, after careful consideration of the consultation outcomes, we decided to go ahead with the proposal.
Please expand the section below to read a short summary of the consultation outcomes and decision.
Summary of the consultation outcomes and decision
We received 74 responses to the consultation survey. 53 percent supported the proposal and 43 percent opposed it. 4 percent neither supported nor opposed it.
In deciding to install the scheme, weight was given to the evidence of dangerous manoeuvres and illegal parking in tight road space outside the school gates during school drop-off and pick-up.
These behaviours create a clear risk to children and other vulnerable road users particularly where they gather outside the school.
It was noted that parents of pupils strongly supported the school street, including parents living on surrounding roads and that residents living in surrounding roads were more likely to object.
We acknowledge that some displacement may occur on surrounding streets at peak times, and we will monitor and review the scheme for any adverse impacts outweighing the benefits of removing traffic from the area where most children gather.
Next steps
We will launch the scheme on Monday 18 May shortly after installing signage.
From launch, most vehicles will no longer be permitted to access the north end of Beacon Road during the following times:
Mornings: 8:15am to 9am
Afternoons: 3pm to 3:45pm
Monday to Friday, term-time only.
We are inviting applications for permit exemptions from 1st May.
To check whether you are eligible, please refer to the section 'Who can access during timed restrictions' above.
We are training volunteer stewards from the school who will manage the temporary barriers and access for those eligible to drive into the School Street. Please treat your stewards with kindness and respect.
Additionally, we continue to work with the school to encourage more walking, wheeling and cycling to reduce the numbers of vehicles entering the area during the school run.
Monitoring and review
We will monitor travel behaviours and traffic flows in the area to assess the School Street's effectiveness, drawing on baseline counts gathered before launch.
We may also monitor air quality where required. We will make adjustments as needed.
