Lees Schools Pioneer Greater Manchester’s First ANPR-Protected School Streets

Two primary schools in Lees have become the first in Greater Manchester to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to create safer streets for children, with impressive results just months after launch.

Hey with Zion Primary School and St. Edwards RC Primary School introduced the new School Street scheme at the start of the 2024 academic year, with Oldham Council and Transport for Greater Manchester officially launching it in October. The innovative approach has already transformed how families travel to school.

Traffic around both schools has dropped significantly, with 21% fewer cars at Hey with Zion and 33% fewer at St. Edwards. Active travel has doubled as more families choose to walk, scoot, or use park and stride arrangements. Park and stride usage specifically has jumped 26%, with parents parking further away and walking the final stretch.

Parents have welcomed the changes enthusiastically. “It’s now safer to walk to school. We’ve always walked, but now it feels better,” one parent commented. Another noted: “It has encouraged me to walk more, which is good.”

A survey revealed strong support for making the scheme permanent, with 65% of parents backing the School Street and 63% encouraging other schools to adopt similar measures. However, the survey also highlighted concerns about increased traffic on Beckett Street, which has seen 20% more cars during peak times as approximately 50 drivers use it for school runs.

The Council is reviewing recommendations to make the School Street permanent and plans safety upgrades for Beckett Street. Parents are urged to avoid driving on Beckett Street and instead use alternative parking at Aldi on Athens Way or Springhead Football Club, walking the remaining distance to school.

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