School Streets exemptions

We want to encourage everyone to avoid driving in School Streets during the restricted hours.

During school holidays and half term breaks, School Street signs will remain visible, but CCTV ANPR camera enforcement will be suspended during these times. It is not a statutory requirement to close them. Refer to the individual School Street locations for details of each school term times.

Exemption details

School Streets exemptions are separate from Controlled Parking Zone permits, and one does not cover the other. School Streets are access restrictions and CPZ’s are parking restrictions.

Having a permit for the relevant CPZ or a valid blue badge will not permit you to enter the School Street during the hours of operation. You will face the risk of incurring a penalty charge notice (PCN).

While a CPZ permit or blue badge will be required to park, it does not qualify you to enter the School Streets scheme during the operational times.

Who can apply

The following drivers can apply for exemption to these restrictions for their vehicles, using this form:

• Residents and businesses within the School Street (up to 4 household owned vehicles per address excluding visitors/services)
• Blue badge holders visiting a property in the School Street
• Care, health and medical workers serving a property within the School Street
• Taxis (private hire) serving a property within the School Street

St Richard Reynolds School Street zone has additional criteria due to the size of the zone.

Automatic exemptions

The following vehicles serving properties in the School Street will be automatically exempt:

• Emergency vehicles
• Council waste trucks
• School buses and school transport
• Taxis (Hackney carriages only)
• Royal Mail postal vehicles

Who cannot apply

The following vehicle drivers cannot apply for exemption (unless eligible under one of the criteria above) and will be liable to a penalty charge notice if they enter the School Street during the operational times:

• Residents and businesses located outside the School Street
• Parents/carers dropping off/collecting children at the school
• Other drivers wishing to cut through the area

Exceptional deliveries and emergency call-outs

We are aware that in some cases exceptional circumstances will require a driver to enter during the operation hours of the School Street.

These drivers may apply for exemption under exceptional circumstances, but must state the ‘Reason for application’ as being ‘Other’ and select the date of entry for which the permit is required. This date should be at least 48 hours ahead of making the application.

If a vehicle has entered under exceptional circumstances without submitting for exemption first, they should email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk before 5pm on the day of entry to avoid a PCN. This also applies if you intend to enter within 48 hours.

Exceptional circumstances may include the following and will be considered on a case by case basis as applications are received:

• Emergency call outs (i.e. burst water pipes, gas leaks, emergency statutory undertaker works etc)
• Heavy deliveries (i.e appliances or building materials)
• Emergency deliveries (i.e. refrigerated or timed medication)

Proof of eligibility can include an invoice or job schedule to confirm delivery time and address.

Non-essential visitors, services and deliveries should be arranged for outside of School Street times, where possible. These include the following:

• Food deliveries
• Non-emergency call outs and services (i.e. satellite dish installation or tradespeople doing odd jobs)

Withdrawing exemptions

Exemptions may be withdrawn if we obtain or receive evidence that an exemption is being misused. For example, if a motorist with an exemption drives or parks in breach of other laws or regulations within the School Street or uses an incorrect address to gain access.

In such cases, drivers will be notified by email of the withdrawal of their exemption.

How and when to apply for an exemption

This form only applies to School Streets enforced by camera.

If you meet one of the criteria for exemption, you can apply by completing the form below at least 48 hours (two working days) before entering the School Street (excluding bank holidays and weekends).

Applications are validated before final approval. It can take up to 48 hours to process your application and for your vehicle registration number to be added to the exemption list, so it is important that you do not travel through the restriction point until after this time period. After you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email which acts as your virtual permit.

There is no need to display this in your vehicle.

We will only contact you if we need clarity or additional information in relation to your application. If you do not hear from us after 48 hours of submitting, your application was successful, and you may enter the School Street.

Applying less than 48 hours before

In exceptional circumstances some drivers may need to apply less than 48 hours before entering the restricted area or after entering. In this instance, please email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk with the information listed below, before 5pm on the day you entered.

Information you will need to provide:

• School Street you entered
• Date you entered
• Vehicle Registration Number (VRM) that entered
• Reason for entering without exemption
• Proof of eligibility (i.e. service/delivery/job schedule)

Notifications received by us later than 5pm on the day of entering the School Street will need to follow the statutory appeals process, if a PCN is issued.

Applying for long term exemptions

Residents and businesses can apply for long term exemptions.

When applying you must supply evidence confirming your name, address (within the School Street) and vehicle registration number.

Accepted documents include:

• Residence or employment (e.g. valid rateable business card)
• Vehicle ownership (e.g. V5C)
• Valid vehicle insurance documents
• Valid vehicle hire/lease agreement (e.g. company letter - a typed letter on company headed paper, signed by your employer and dated within the last three months. The letter must include: your name and address, and the vehicle's make and registration number or hire contract)

Blue Badge holders, healthcare professionals and carers can also apply for long term exemptions.

Blue Badge holders applying for a long a term exemption should provide:

• Front and rear images of their blue badge

Healthcare professionals (e.g. district nurses or immunisation teams) applying for a long a term exemption should:

• Email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk ahead of entering the restricted area

Carers (professional and non-professional) applying for a long a term exemption should provide:

• An image of their ID badge
• A letter from the School Street resident confirming their services

Applying for single day exemptions

Taxis and essential delivery drivers can apply for single day exemptions.

Taxi’s applying for a single day exemption should:

• Provide their Taxi License ID 
• Email evidence, instruction or route number in the case of SEN or social services arranged transport to schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk

Delivery drivers or other essential visitors applying for a single day exemption should provide:

• A letter, contract or invoice from the School Street resident, business or school confirming their services

If you apply online, documentation should be uploaded with your application. You can upload scanned images, or photos of your documents taken by your phone or camera.

Find out more information about Penalty Charge Notices.

Applying for someone else

If you are applying on behalf of a visitor, taxi or delivery driver, please complete the form as if you were them (select no you do not live within the School Street).

Replacing an existing vehicle registration already on the exemption list with a new registration

If you have changed your vehicle registration you must amend your exemption accordingly by making an application as you would for a new vehicle to be added to the exemption list. When you add the new vehicle registration, you will be asked if this application is to replace a vehicle you have previously registered for exemption. Enter the registration to be removed in the relevant text box and continue to complete the form, submitting at the end.

Removing a vehicle registration from the exemption list

If you have moved house or sold your car and no longer need access to a School Street, email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk with the following information:

• School Street for which you no longer need exemption
• Vehicle Registration Number (VRM)

Which schools are enforced by ANPR

This form applies only to those School Streets enforced by camera. Currently, those are:

• GEMS Twickenham Primary Academy SS3 – Colne Rd (part), Twickenham
• Orleans Primary SS16 – Hartington Rd, Twickenham
• St John the Baptist CE Junior SS11 – Lower Teddington Rd (part), Hampton Wick
• St Richard Reynolds Catholic College SS4 - Lion Rd, Staten Gdns, Station Rd (part), Clifden Rd, Copthall Gdns (part), Tudor Gdns, Twickenham
• St Stephens CE Primary SS2 - Winchester Rd (part), Twickenham
• Stanley Primary SS5 - Strathmore Road, Teddington
• Hampton Infant and Nursery School SS6 - Ripley Road, Hampton
• Holy Trinity CE Primary SS7 - Carrington Road, Richmond
• Jack and Jill School SS10 - First Cross Road, Twickenham
• Heathfield Infant and Junior Schools - Cobbett Road SS22 and Longford Road SS24, Whitton

Cameras are shared and can be relocated to other School Streets. Please follow the signs on street. Passing a School Street sign during operational hours without a permit or without being eligible to enter is the first point of contravention whether the School Street is CCTV ANPR enforced or not.

These webpages are updated as cameras are relocated or added.

Use of your information

Under the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is the controller of your personal information.

Please visit our frequently asked questions and School Street privacy notice pages for more information.

Help with your application

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure the form is completed correctly. If you are unable to complete the exemption form, or need assistance, please email schoolstreets@richmond.gov.uk.

Apply for an exemption