Croydon council is pushing forward with plans to ban more cars around schools, close roads to create play streets for children and offer residents’ bike storage facilities.

Many of the schemes replicate what others boroughs such as neighbouring Lambeth have been doing for years. Despite playing catch up the initiatives will help to provide safer streets and cleaner air especially for children.

Following on from a successful pilot that saw pedestrian zones introduced around three schools in 2017,a further shortlist of schools who expressed interest has been drawn up, with letters sent to the school and nearby residents to gather views.

These include: Winterbourne Junior Girls, in Bensham Manor, Norbury Manor Primary, Norbury, Cypress Primary, South Norwood, Downsview Primary and nursery, Upper Norwood and West Thornton Primary Academy, Broad Green.

The new School Streets would come into effect from September 2019, but only during the morning and afternoon school run. They are designed to help improve road safety around the schools and air quality. Residents’ cars would not be affected by the pedestrian zone.

Councillor Stuart King, cabinet lead for environment and transport said: “We want to work with schools and residents to make these next schemes as successful as their award-winning predecessors.

“The three School Streets led to 250 fewer children travelling to school by car with most of them walking, cycling or scooting to school instead.”

•Play Streets are resident led initiatives to close their road temporarily for a few hours once a month or once a week so that children can play in the road.

The Council’s formal role is to decide whether a road can be temporarily closed and publish the formal notices but it also provides support, advice and guidance to residents to start a Play Street.

Livingstone Road successfully trialled a Play Zone last year which restarts on Sunday March 10 between 1.30pm-4.30pm. All are welcome but children must be accompanied by an adult.

• Meanwhile five bikehangars have been installed across Croydon in a bid to boost sustainable forms of transport including one on Mersham Road.

These shared bicycle parking hubs are designed to provide secure cycle storage for communities, making it easier for residents to access their bikes and ride more often. 

Each of the cycle hangars accommodate up to six bicycles with residents paying a small annual fee to use them.

Anyone looking to book a space in one of the bikehangars should visit www.cyclehoop.rentals.

If residents would like to see a secure shared bikehangar in their community contact: cycling@croydon.gov.uk