Wiltshire Council is planning to introduce School Streets outside three primary schools from September 2026 following a county-wide consultation.
The proposed pilot scheme would see temporary traffic restrictions introduced outside schools at the start and end of the school day to improve safety, reduce congestion and encourage more children to walk, wheel or cycle to school.
Following consultation with residents, schools, businesses and the wider community, the council intends to move forward with School Streets at Aloeric Primary School in Melksham, Fynamore Primary School in Calne and Minster Primary School in Warminster.
School Streets are designed to create safer and calmer environments around schools by restricting through traffic during the busiest periods of the day. The restrictions would only apply for short periods during term time and would be enforced using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
Exemptions would be available for emergency services, people living within the restricted area and those with defined access needs.
The council originally consulted on five potential locations after schools put themselves forward for the pilot. However, two locations will not be taken forward at this stage.
At Queen’s Crescent Primary School in Chippenham, residents raised concerns about traffic and parking being displaced into nearby streets. Wiltshire Council says it will allow more time for the school to develop alternative proposals that could reduce the impact on the surrounding community.
Meanwhile, plans involving Staverton Primary School and Emmaus School will not proceed after concerns were raised about access for carers and deliveries. The council says it will instead explore other highway and safety improvements for the area and may revisit the idea in the future.
Councillor Martin Smith, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said, “School Streets are about creating safer, calmer environments for children and families at the busiest times of the school day.
“We had nearly 600 responses to our consultation, and we have listened carefully to the feedback, which has been invaluable in shaping where and how we move forward.
“As a result, we are planning to take three schools forward as part of our pilot, with two sites – and three schools – not going ahead at this time. This pilot approach allows us to test what works best while continuing to listen to local communities and make changes where appropriate.”
The schemes would be introduced using Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders, allowing the council to trial the measures, gather feedback and assess whether they should become permanent.
Further consultation will take place as part of the statutory process before a final decision is made. If approved, installation work is expected to take place ahead of the new school year in September 2026.
To find out more, go to: Decision details – Democratic Services – Wiltshire Council
