School Exclusion Zone Programme
Perth and Kinross Council · 28 May 2025
Back to Economy and Infrastructure Committee — 28 May 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Economy & Infrastructure Committee Date of Meeting: 28 May 2025 Report Title School Exclusion Zone Programme Report Number: 25/131 Report Author: Daryl McKeown, Senior Engineer, Traffic & Network Organisational Lead: Fraser Crofts, Strategic Lead Environment & Infrastructure ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this Report is to provide an update on the effectiveness of school exclusion zones in Blairgowrie, Guildtown, Kinloch Rannoch and Perth, to propose additional pedestrian facilities at Blairgowrie and Perth, and to recommend changes at the Viewlands zone in Perth to encourage better compliance with the access restriction. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendations 3. Background/Context 4. Main Issues 5. Proposals 6. Conclusion 7. Impact and Value Assessment 8. Appendices 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Committee: 2.1 Notes the effectiveness of the school exclusion zone programme within a defined road environment. 2.2 Approves the creation of permanent Traffic Regulation Orders for school exclusion zones at Blairgowrie Community Campus and at Guildtown, Inchview and Kinloch Rannoch primary schools.
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2.3 Approves the creation of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to trial an exclusion zone at Tulloch Primary School. 2.4 Agrees to public consultation on changes to the Viewlands school exclusion zone to encourage better compliance. 2.5 Approves the provision of the additional measures to improve pedestrian facilities around Blairgowrie Community Campus and at Guildtown, Tulloch and Viewlands primary schools, and the removal of the school exclusion zone from the old Balhousie Primary School site, subject to consultation and available budgets. 2.6 Approves the implementation of a communications strategy to promote each school exclusion zone. 3. Background/Context 3.1 In 2016, Perth & Kinross Council undertook a successful trial of the school exclusion zone (SEZ) access restriction on streets around four primary schools – Arngask (Glenfarg), Burrelton, Coupar Angus and Luncarty. The Arngask and Burrelton sites were accommodated within the existing road network. Running parallel with the Coupar Angus and Luncarty SEZ projects was the upgrading of pedestrian facilities in the form of new footpath links. 3.2 The Council was responding to road safety concerns from schools, parents and residents about traffic levels at the school gates. There were two objectives to installing the school exclusion zones – (i) to reduce congestion, and the associated road safety risk, at the school gate and (ii) discourage dependence on vehicular transport by enabling people to walk to and from school. 3.3 The school exclusion zone is an access restriction, rather than a parking restriction. Vehicles are not permitted to drive in, out or around the school streets when the scheme is in operation. Signs are located at the entrance to the schemes which have flashing amber beacons to indicate when the scheme is in operation. Only those vehicles displaying a valid permit are exempt from the access restriction. Vehicles parked within the zone without a permit are entitled to remain but cannot move until the operating time finishes. 3.4 As a school exclusion zone is an access restriction, entering the restricted area without a valid permit is a traffic violation and a matter for Police Scotland. Similar to speed limits, local roads authorities can introduce such restrictions but enforcement remains the responsibility of the Police. From the start of the project, Police Scotland stated they would not routinely enforce the school exclusion zones but would respond to school or community concerns as resources permit. 3.5 In 2022, Perth & Kinross Council introduced additional school exclusion zones at nine schools, covering six sites, as part of our Spaces for People (SFP) programme. The SFP funding from the Scottish Government was to facilitate increased pedestrian activity during the early stages of the Covid pandemic.
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The additional schools were being introduced as part of a trial using a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order. These new school exclusion zones covered streets around the school campuses at Balhousie, Guildtown, Inchview, Kinloch Rannoch, Newhill/St. Stephen’s, Viewlands/Fairview/Perth Academy. A further site at Tulloch Primary School was deferred until improvements have been made to the road infrastructure for pedestrians. 3.6 The original 18-month TTROs were permitted to be extended by the Scottish Government to 24-months. This was largely because of the high number of new TTROs introduced across the country by Local Authorities during the Covid pandemic and the length of time it would take to assess and process them to full TROs. These TTROS have now expired which means the access restrictions cannot be enforced. Police Scotland retain a visible presence around the schools as an ongoing deterrent. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Balhousie Primary School was the site that experienced most compliance. The school was located at the end of a short cul-de-sac, with limited frontage development resulting in no through-traffic and low residential traffic. The entire school role resides within the catchment area so there was limited parent/carer traffic. This road environment is the ideal model for a school exclusion zone. Although the school has now closed, and the pupils transferred to Riverside Primary School, this trial zone has provided the Council with the most beneficial study site. 4.2 The school exclusion zones at Guildtown, Inchview and Kinloch Rannoch also lie on short no-through roads with limited traffic, as do the original Arngask and Burrelton zones. Compliance at each site varies but is generally good. There have been regular complaints about poor compliance by a small number of drivers and requests for enforcement at Inchview, and occasional complaints about unauthorised traffic at Guildtown and Kinloch Rannoch. There have been no requests to have these zones amended or removed. 4.3 At the Blairgowrie Community Campus, the access restriction covers several individual streets which are adjacent to the campus and connected by pedestrian accesses. Initially, school traffic migrated from these excluded streets to the adjacent public road network. It was agreed with the Ward Councillors, the Community Council and the Parent Council to introduce waiting restrictions around the road junctions on the periphery of the school exclusion zones site in order to prevent obstructive parking. Electronic signs were installed on Elm Drive but not activated as the beginning of the school exclusion zone project coincided with building of the new houses and link road. Once completed, Elm Drive would become a local distributor road, as initially planned, and unsuitable for any access restriction. 4.4 A Park & Stride site has recently been constructed on Hazelwood Road which provides a continuous pedestrian link to the school without pupils having to cross a public road. Travel patterns and traffic volumes in the area have increased with the opening of the new retail park on Perth Road and the (still to be adopted) link between Hazelwood Road and Elm Drive. It is likely that
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an additional school exclusion zone will be required on the new housing development next to the school but this will continue to be monitored. 4.5 The Viewlands school exclusion zone, covering Viewlands Primary School, Fairview School and Perth Academy has been problematic from the outset. Pupils at Fairview are taxied to the school so their transport is exempt from the access restriction. The Academy has a larger catchment area but those pupils residing over three miles away are automatically entitled to school transport. However, over half the primary school role resides outside the catchment area and attend the school as placement requests. Some of these are a few streets away on the other side of the Glasgow Road, within the catchment for Craigie Primary School. 4.6 The new traffic signals at the Murray Place/Murray Crescent junction includes a pedestrian phase which has assisted vehicular and pedestrian movements across Glasgow Road. A footway, planned before the school exclusion zone project, was constructed on the school side of Fairies Road as a drop-off/pick- up point and to provide an upgraded public transport connection. A Puffin crossing was installed on Viewlands Road near the entrance to Perth Academy. These measures were planned before the Spaces for People school exclusion zone project was formulated and will remain in place for all road users, regardless of the outcome of the school exclusion zone project. 4.7 The various part-time 20mph speed limits that operated at school times were extended, connected and made permanent. All residential streets in the area will soon be subject to a 20mph speed limit as part of the 20mph National Strategy being promoted by the Scottish Government. 4.8 There is a narrow footway along the south (school) side of Viewlands Road to the west of Murray Terrace, but it does not extend as far as the school gate. There is no footway on the south side of Viewlands Road from the point midway between Viewlands Place and Murray Terrace, to the Glasgow Road junction. All pupils travelling along Viewlands Road are required to walk on the north side of the road, then cross Viewlands Road to access the schools. 4.9 The parental decision to transport those pupils who reside a distance from the school by car generates additional traffic, both around the school gate and within the campus. At the start of the trial, there was increased parking on Fairies Road and Oakbank Road from displaced traffic. Double yellow lines were installed around public road junctions to prevent obstructive parking. As compliance rates have reduced, parking has gradually moved from these streets on the periphery back onto the streets within the school exclusion zone. 4.10 While many parents voiced support for the Viewlands trial, and compliance by drivers was generally good in the initial months, compliance rates have steadily decreased. Current traffic figures are similar to pre-school exclusion zone levels. 4.11 Residents within the zone, residents adjacent to the zone and the parents of hundreds of school children attending Viewlands Primary School and Perth
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Academy, were invited to participate in a public consultation in June 2024. The Traffic & Network Team received 136 responses, with an even split between residents and parents. The results are summarised as follows: • Remove the school exclusion zone 62 people (46%) • Amend the school exclusion zone 17 people (12.5%) • Retain the school exclusion zone 55 people (40%) • Other comments/Neutral 2 people (1.5%) Almost all the people who wanted the zone removed or amended were parents or residents adjacent to the zone. Almost all the people who wanted the zone retained were residents within the zone. 4.12 Whatever the reasons for continuing to drive in the school exclusion zone without a permit (and they appear to be many), drivers are choosing to ignore the access restriction and drive up to the school gate. This also includes driving through the shared-campus. For any restriction on the road network to work, the public must accept/understand its basis to exist and comply accordingly. It should also be appropriate for the road environment. This applies to any restriction, such as a speed limit, priority system or weight limit. If it is continually ignored, there is clearly a problem. 4.13 There are two factors to consider at Viewlands school exclusion zone. Firstly, the zone has multiple accesses which enables drivers to easily travel into and through it. Secondly, there has been a lack of consistent enforcement. From the outset, Police Scotland’s stated position is that they will not routinely enforce the school exclusion zone but will respond to community concerns about road safety as, and when, resources permit. It is their same position as 30mph speed limits and 20mph speed limits. Restrictions should be appropriate for the road environment in order to be self-regulating. 4.14 The Viewlands school exclusion zone in its current configuration is unworkable. The Council does not recommend removing the access restriction completely as this would simply reintroduce the congestion and road safety problems at the school gates. It was for this reason that the Head Teacher and Parent Council wanted us to do something in the first place. The request for a school exclusion zone did not come from residents, although residents within the zone continue to be supportive. The zone was extended, and extended again, to cover additional streets at the request of the Ward Councillors who were representing their constituents. The Traffic & Network Team agreed to include the additional streets in the extended area as part of the trial. 5. Proposals 5.1 Balhousie school exclusion zone: With the closure of Balhousie Primary School the inactive Balhousie school exclusion zone signs can be utilised at another school exclusion zone site. As there is no school exclusion zone planned in the near future, the signs will be disconnected, taken down and put into storage until required.
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5.2 Guildtown school exclusion zone: The access restriction on School Road for Guildtown Primary School requires no alteration. A new Puffin crossing is proposed in Guildtown as part of the second phase of the Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) Mitigation Measures project. The first phase saw the speed limits reduced to 20mph and ramps installed across the road at the entrances to the village as part of the first phase. The preferred location of the Puffin crossing is on Main Street between the School Road and Hall Road junctions. This will encourage pupils to walk to the primary school and reduce dependence on vehicular traffic. The crossing could be installed on a flat- topped ramp as a further speed reduction measure. 5.3 Inchview school exclusion zone: The access restriction on Craigie Place for Inchview Primary School requires no alteration. 5.4 Kinloch Rannoch school exclusion zone: The access restriction on Allt Mor Crescent at Kinloch Rannoch Primary School requires no alteration. 5.5 Blairgowrie school exclusion zone: The access restriction on Smithfield Crescent, McLaren Park and Blackthorn Place requires no alteration. The school exclusion zone should be extended to cover the newly constructed residential street on the school side of Elm Drive. This is still under construction and the site remains the responsibility of the developer. During the maintenance period, prior to adoption, consultation will be undertaken with residents about the introduction of an school exclusion zone. The inactive school exclusion zone signs on Elm Drive can be relocated to cover the new street. The cost of this work will be covered by the TRO Revenue budget in 2025/26. The retail park on Perth Road will be promoted as an additional Park & Stride site to the Hazelwood Road facility, utilising the Puffin crossing on Perth Road that links to the off-road path along Ardblair Trail connecting to the campus. This will be included in the new communications strategy. 5.6 Tulloch school exclusion zone: Pedestrian facilities were to be upgraded before the access restriction at Tulloch Primary School became operational. Two Puffin crossings and a missing section of footway have now been installed on Primrose Crescent. The Zebra crossing on Primrose Crescent has been removed following the relocation of the main pedestrian access to the school from Gillespie Place to Primrose Crescent. The Traffic & Network Team will engage with the Head Teacher during June 2025 regarding a possible launch of the zone in the autumn term. 5.7 A continuous footway is planned for Nimmo Avenue, at the Nimmo Place junction but has still to be designed and programmed. This will assist pedestrian movement and suppress vehicle speeds and is scheduled for 2026/27. Further continuous footways are being considered at the Nimmo Place/Primrose Crescent and the Gillespie Place/Primrose Crescent junctions. The school sits within a full-time 20mph speed limit; and this is due to be extended later this year to cover the whole Tulloch area as part of the 20mph National Strategy being promoted by the Scottish Government by the end of 2025.
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5.8 Viewlands school exclusion zone: At Viewlands, the school exclusion zone should be reduced to cover Oakbank Crescent, the upper section of Oakbank Place and the upper section of Murray Place. This will ensure both vehicular and pedestrian accesses to the primary school are located within the school exclusion zone. Fairies Road would continue to be a drop-off/pick-up point at the west of the campus. Murray Terrace and Viewlands Place would become drop-off/pick-up points at the east of the campus as originally envisaged. These streets were included in the extended trial site, but this moved the area covered by zone beyond the immediate vicinity of the schools. If the entire school exclusion zone is removed completely, school traffic would return to these streets anyway. 5.9 The school exclusion zone would be removed from Viewlands Terrace as it is remote from the school and has experienced little impact from displaced traffic. Fraser Terrace needs to be retained within the school exclusion zone as there is no turning facility at the top of the street which would force drivers to exit through the school exclusion zone. 5.10 Although these recommended changes are based on the public consultation exercise last year, they do represent a major alteration to the school exclusion zone and a reduction in the number of streets covered by the access restriction. As a result, it is proposed to carry out a public consultation exercise prior to commencing work on the Traffic Regulation Order. This would include electronic communication through the schools to the parents and a maildrop to residents in those streets within and adjacent to the original zone. In addition, in co-ordination with the Head Teachers, consultation about road safety and active travel will be undertaken by the Traffic & Network Team with pupils in the schools. 5.11 There are cost implications with preparing a new Traffic Regulation Order, disconnecting and removing or relocating the school exclusion zone signs and further upgrading pedestrian facilities in the area. Removal and relocation of the electronic signs can be covered by the TRO budget. The ongoing administrative costs are also absorbed into the TRO programme and budget. 5.12 A Puffin crossing will be installed on Fairies Road, in the vicinity of the Oakbank Crescent junction, to replace the School Crossing Patroller that no longer operates at the site. 5.13 The Murray Place/Viewlands Road junction will be reconfigured. Reducing the junction radius will lower entrance speeds and enable the footways to be widened at the crossing points with Athollbank Drive. 5.14 There is no land available within the road boundary to widen the narrow footway west of Murray Terrace and provide a connection to connect to Perth Academy. There is no land available within the road boundary to construct a footway as a private dwelling abuts the road. A priority system will be installed, reducing the carriageway to single lane. This would provide the space for a widened footway and act as a speed reduction measure (especially if priority is given to uphill traffic). A new remote footpath could be constructed through the trees to the Academy’s main entrance, similar to the
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Viewlands Road path on the uphill side of the school gate. In the interim, there is a footway on the north side of Viewlands Road although pupils are required to cross the road to access the schools. 5.15 A footway could be constructed along the south side of Viewlands Road to connect to the Glasgow Road junction. In the interim, there is a footway on the north side of Viewlands Road although pupils are required to cross the road to access the schools. 5.16 The combined school campus is maintained by Perth & Kinross Council but does not form part of the public road network. It is the responsibility of the Education & Learning Service. There are information signs at the two gates promoting a self-regulating one-way system through the campus. The entry point is opposite Muray Place and the exit is opposite Fraser Terrace. There are major challenges regarding traffic management and road safety within the campus due to the conflicting movements by the various competing, but legitimate, road users. This is exasperated by the additional, unauthorised vehicular traffic created by drivers without permits entering the school exclusion zone and the school grounds. The Traffic & Network Team will liaise with the Education & Learning Service to assess the current road layout within the campus and devise remedial measures. 5.17 Communications Strategy: A publicity campaign, aimed particularly at new parents, will be undertaken at the start of each new academic year, with reminders at the start of each term. Education initiatives can be used to change driver behaviour rather than relying solely on enforcement to change driver behaviour. This publicity campaign will form part of the communications strategy for all the school exclusion zones. This will be developed between Traffic & Network and the Council’s Communications Team, in partnership with the Education & Learning Service. 5.18 In order for the proposals outlined above to be progressed they will require to be costed and suitable funding identified, most of which can be accommodated within existing Traffic and Network budgets or external grants. Some of the additional mitigation measures identified in the proposals in and around the Viewlands area would require additional funding to progress which would need further consideration at F&R Committee and/or as part of the Council’s capital budget setting process. 6. Conclusion 6.1 Amendments to the school exclusion zones will help encourage better compliance with the access restrictions at each site and reduce the need for regular enforcement. 6.2 Promotion of, and compliance with, the school exclusion zones will help make the streets around the schools safer by reducing the risk of conflict between the various road users.
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6.3 Promotion of, and compliance with, the school exclusion zones will help reduce dependence on vehicular transport and encourage active modes of transport. 7. Impact and Value Assessment https://www.pkc.gov.uk/media/54054/School-Exclusion-Zone- Programme/pdf/School_Exclusion_Zone_Programme.pdf?m=1747740832007 8. Appendices 8.1 Appendix 1 - Drawing VSEZ1 Existing Layout 8.2 Appendix 2 - Drawing VSEZ2 Proposed Layout