Lambeth Council has created 40 School Streets to protect pupils, staff and parents from air pollution and reduce road danger around the school gates during the busiest times of the day.

School Streets use traffic restrictions to prevent motor vehicles from using local streets around schools during the morning drop-off and afternoon-pick up times.

A further 17 School Streets are planned by November 2025 – meaning 90 per cent of Lambeth primary schools will be within one of the protective schemes. The remaining schools are located on main roads, and some will involve discussions with Transport for London to reduce road danger around them.

Deputy leader Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Lambeth and Clean Air, said: “It is vital we protect our most vulnerable residents from the harmful effects of air pollution and road danger caused by congested streets.

“This is why I am delighted that by next November, 90 percent of Lambeth primary schools will be covered by a School Street scheme. This will have a direct and positive impact on both young children, their parents and staff at the schools.”

“In the Borough Plan, we committed to making Lambeth a liflelong borough with the best conditions to grow up and age well. School streets are a significant part of this vision, creating the space for children and parents to safely mix at the school gates.”

School Streets use traffic orders to restrict vehicles from entering certain streets and is enforced by signs and traffic cameras.

Lambeth Council has also unveiled a more ambitious School Street scheme as part of the Kennington Oval Reimagined programme that has transformed the streets around the Kia Oval Cricket Ground so they can be used by children as space to play.

As part of the project the council has added play space for people to meet and socialise as well as new greening and cycle parking.

The council will review its existing School Streets to see whether similar upgrades can be made to introduce play or community spaces.

Cllr Chowdhury added: “We are on a mission to transform our streets, so people are prioritised. That means creating more space for children to play outside and more spaces for other members of the community to enjoy.

“School Streets play a significant role in helping us reduce pollution and road danger, by eliminating the scenes of traffic congestion that has sadly become so common outside schools.”