Healthy School Streets Experimental Traffic Management Orders (ETMOs) - Statutory Consultations
Healthy School Street ETMO objection forms:
Those affected by the experiments will have 6 months (25 April 2022 - 25 October 2022) to submit an objection.
In order to object to the experimental Healthy School Street scheme you are affected by, you must select and complete the relevant ETMO form objection form accessible from the list of links given at the bottom of this page. To view detailed information on each Healthy School Street scheme please click on the relevant leaflets located on the right of this page.
Background:
In September 2020, Croydon Council implemented 10 Healthy School Street schemes using an Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO) which became effective on 1 September 2020. An ETMO can only be valid for a maximum period of 18 months and therefore the ETMO for all 10 schemes expired on 1 March 2022. Installing schemes using an ETMO, allows both the council and public to appreciate and monitor the true effects of the scheme. Under normal circumstances, prior to the end of the 18-month experimental period, the council would decide to either make the scheme permanent or remove it entirely, depending on the outcome of the experiment and how it has performed.
For the first 6 months from the date that the ETMO comes into effect, provision is made for those that are impacted by the experiment to submit objections to the council, which are then taken into consideration as part of the overall assessment on how the experiment has performed. For the 10 Healthy School Street schemes, the 6 months objection period was between 1 September 2020 and 1 March 2021.
The experimental Healthy School Street schemes came into effect at a time when the country was battling with the COVID-19 pandemic and soon after their implementation, unfortunately a stringent lockdown was introduced in December 2020. The lockdown resulted in the closure of schools across England and in response the council took the decision to temporarily pause enforcement of all Healthy School Streets schemes from December 2020 through to March 2021. This decision was made on the basis, that it would be unreasonable for the council to continue to enforce the schemes, that are primarily installed to support the schools, which had to close.
As a result of infrastructure delays, school closures and the suspension of enforcement, the Healthy School Street schemes were not fully operational for a large part of the objection period for the ETMO. As a result, road users will not have experienced the true impact of the expired ETMO as it would be in ‘business as usual’ conditions. Whilst the public did engage in providing comments in relation to the schemes, the council does not consider it has been able to make a fair assessment on how the schemes performed for the full 18 months.
New statutory ETMO consultation:
For the above reasons the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Croydon has taken the decision to reintroduce the 10 Healthy School Street schemes under new ETMOs for a maximum period of 18 months, starting on 25 April 2022. This will include a new 6 month objection period. The reintroduction now, would crucially allow the council, school and public to fully appreciate and monitor the impacts of the schemes in the absence of COVID-19 related restrictions.
The associated background report and decision notice in relation to this can be viewed by clicking HERE.
What happens next
At the end of the experimental period, the council will review all the objections received together with its own assessment on how the scheme has performed and will take a decision on whether the experimental schemes are to be removed or be made permanent.
For further information on the council’s Healthy School Streets programme please visit www.croydon.gov.uk/school-streets
