.jpg)
.svg)
Medway Council’s high-profile 'School Streets' initiative, designed to boost safety around 11 local schools, has come under intense scrutiny after it was revealed the scheme has issued almost 25,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and generated a staggering £678,690 in revenue since its launch in March last year. This considerable sum—accrued from fines that stand at £70, or £35 if paid promptly—has fueled a growing local outcry, with many residents and drivers accusing the council of using the restrictions primarily as a "money-making" venture rather than a genuine safety measure.
The scheme prohibits motor vehicle access outside 11 specific schools during peak times—8:15 am to 9:00 am and 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm—with the stated aim of encouraging walking and cycling while making the immediate school environment safer for children. However, the operational reality appears to be creating significant frustration and unintended consequences for the local community.
A primary complaint across multiple neighborhoods, including those around Burnt Oak Primary School in Gillingham, is that the restrictions have merely displaced the congestion and speeding issues, pushing them onto adjacent, residential streets. Dayna Rowe, a local mother and resident on a road adjacent to Burnt Oak, described the post-restriction traffic as a "nightmare," arguing that vehicles previously using the main school road as a cut-through are now clogging up her street, making it difficult even to exit her own driveway.
Furthermore, driver awareness and the clarity of signage remain a critical point of contention. Many locals argue that the warning signs detailing the restrictions are too small, overly complicated, and wordy, making them difficult to comprehend quickly while driving. Adrian Pender, a decade-long area resident, highlighted the unintuitive nature of the signage, stating, "If you’re driving, there’s so much description that you’re not going to read it." This lack of clear communication appears to be a major factor in the high number of PCNs issued, catching out both first-time visitors and, as some attest, even long-term residents.
The issues extend beyond general non-compliance, with several registered residents, who should be exempt from the rules, reporting repeated, erroneous fines. One parent at Burnt Oak noted that her partner, despite having his vehicle registered with the council as exempt, has been incorrectly fined three times. The subsequent appeals process, which residents are forced to navigate to overturn the incorrect PCNs, is described as an unnecessary hassle where the council "try to argue that it’s our problem."
The council, in its defence, insists the School Streets initiative is having a "positive impact on road safety" and is designed to create healthier streets. They acknowledged that "new restrictions can take a while to get used to," which prompted the issuance of warning notices for first-time offences during the initial six-month rollout period. However, with the fine revenue now approaching £700,000, locals like mother-of-eight Charmaine Gordon remain cynical, asserting that the motivation is simply a "scheme to make money," a perception fueled by the visible disruption to traffic flow and the persistent issues with signage and exemptions. The council has committed to a continuous review of the scheme, but the pressing question for residents and drivers remains: where exactly is the nearly £680,000 in revenue being allocated, and why are the unintended negative consequences of displaced traffic and bureaucratic fines yet to be effectively addressed?
