School Streets camera enforcement trial
The aim of the trial is to see how well using ANPR cameras to enforce School Streets works. The use of ANPR would remove the need for school staff to steward the timed closures and could help make sure the rules are followed.
What are we proposing
We want to trial using ANPR at four current School Street locations.
- Chester Park Junior School
- Minerva Primary Academy
- St Werburgh's Primary School (Mogg Street site)
- Whitehall Primary School
These sites have been chosen for the trial based on a number of factors such as:
- Collision data
- Traffic data of the area
- Their location and layout
- Incidents reported to the police
- Incidents reported to Bristol City Council
- Observations from the School Streets team at Bristol City Council
The proposed camera locations for the trial are shown on the plans below:
Chester Park Junior School
Minerva Primary Academy
St Werburgh's Primary School (Mogg Street site)
Whitehall Primary School
See further information below for more detail about how ANPR works, exemptions and what school streets are.
Tell us what you think
This survey is open from 8 September 2026 and will close at midnight on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
The survey will ask you which School Street locations you are interested in responding to, allowing you to respond to the site or sites most relevant to you.
Alternative formats
If you have any questions, or if you need this survey in a different format, please contact:
- Email: transport.engagement@bristol.gov.uk
- Write to: School Streets camera enforcement trial, Transport Engagement, PO BOX 3399, 100 Temple Street, Bristol BS1 9NE
- A different format could be:
- Easy Read
- large print
- braille
- British Sign Language
- a different language
What happens next
The results from this survey will be used to decide if a trial using ANPR at the four locations goes ahead.
If the trials go ahead and are successful, their results will then help inform whether we use ANPR on other and future school streets (subject to available funding).
For any sites chosen to have ANPR enforcement, we will ask for feedback as part of our Moving Traffic Enforcement duty.
Further information
What is a School Street
School Streets are zones outside of schools where traffic is restricted during drop-off and pick-up times in order to improve safety, reduce air pollution and encourage walking, wheeling and cycling.
You can find out more about what a School Street is on our webpage: www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/road-safety-in-schools/bristol-school-streets
How does ANPR enforcement work
ANPR cameras record the number plates of vehicles that pass a certain point on a road where rules apply. This would be at the edge of the School Street zone.
The system then checks each number plate against a list of vehicles that are allowed through. If a vehicle is not on the list, the owner is sent a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for breaking the rules.
What exemptions would be in place
Residents who live on the road/roads where the School Street restriction is placed will be exempt and able to travel through the restriction without receiving a PCN. These are the residents who have existing school streets permits.
Blue Badge holders who need to access the school as a child, parent, carer or staff member will also be exempt. These Blue Badge holders will be able to apply for exemptions by providing their vehicle registration to the school. The school will provide this list of blue badge exemptions to the council who will add them to the exemptions list for the specific school street.
Emergency vehicles are also exempt.
How long would the proposed trials be for
If the proposed trials go ahead, the trials would be in place for 18 months and monitored throughout before a final decision is made on making the cameras permanent.
Funding
The trial for using ANPR cameras is being funded through the Safer Routes to School fund, funded by the Clean Air Zone funding.
Key dates
- Start date: 8 September 2026
- End date: 20 October 2026