Brent Council issued 73,018 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to drivers on School Streets between April 2025 and March 2026, a rate of 384 fines per school day. If paid in full, these fines would generate over £11.6 million in revenue.
Concerns over signage and scheme design
Conservative Councillor Michael Maurice plans to raise the issue at the Full Council meeting on July 6. He said the “significant number” of fines raises questions about whether signage is “unclear, poorly positioned, or difficult to interpret clearly while driving.” He has asked for a review of signage and a full breakdown of figures to ensure motorists are not caught out by “inadequate signage or poor scheme design” rather than deliberate breaches. He also wants to know the impact on child safety and pollution reduction to avoid the impression that the streets “are serving as revenue generating measures.”
School Streets scheme details
The School Streets scheme enforces road closures outside schools during drop-off (8am-9am) and pick-up times (2:30pm-4pm) on weekdays. It is designed to improve safety and reduce pollution. Unauthorised drivers face fines of up to £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. The total potential revenue from fines ranges from £5.8 million to £11.6 million, though some fines may go unpaid.
Worst-affected streets
The four streets around Preston Manor School—Carlton Avenue East, Princess Avenue, Bowling Green Court, and Elmstead Avenue—received 12,250 fines. These streets were first designated under the scheme in November 2024. When implemented, the school acknowledged the zone may “take a little time to adapt to” but would have “an immediate positive impact” on children’s safety.
Other schools with high fine numbers include John Keble C of E, Maple Walk, and St Claudine’s in Harlesden (12,171 fines), and Kingsbury Green and St Robert Southwell in Kingsbury (8,337 fines).
Council response and reviews
Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets, Transport and Public Realm, Cllr Promise Knight, said the council is committed to ensuring School Street schemes “operate fairly, lawfully, and effectively.” She stated that all signage is compliant with national legal requirements. The council undertook a borough-wide review of signage in 2023, installing advance warning signs (AWS) where appropriate, and a further review in 2024 added more AWS at several locations. All School Street schemes now include advance warning signage on approach to every entry point, and two entry signs where feasible.
Officers regularly review sites with higher enforcement activity, and further improvements will be considered where concerns exist. Cllr Knight noted that high PCN numbers could be due to traffic volumes or location near busy roads.
Impact on safety and environment
The council completed a review of 22 School Street schemes, finding that child casualty numbers remained “very low” with “no sustained increases” in road traffic casualties around most schools, and several saw reductions. Travel behaviour changed positively, with reduced car travel and increased walking, cycling, scooting, and public transport use. Annual NO2 concentrations decreased, suggesting reduced vehicle emissions and improved air quality.
Cllr Knight said: “School Streets have been well supported by residents and the school community and with positive feedback. From our studies, it has been concluded School Streets appear [to be] effective in meeting the councils transport objectives and providing a safer environment around schools, reducing traffic-related risks, improving air quality, and maintaining or increasing active travel levels.”
