A new "school street" in which vehicle restrictions will be in place at peak times will be introduced next week after residents shared their safety concerns. 

Rowland Way in Lees, where Hey with Zion Primary School and St Edwards RC Primary School are situated, will have restrictions on it from Wednesday, September 4 as part of a "soft launch" of the "school street" scheme.

The complete launch of the scheme will then be rolled out on Monday, September 9. It will be the first scheme of its kind in Greater Manchester that will utilise automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to effectively enforce the school street.

The council said the use of ANPR cameras is "setting a new standard for school travel in the region". 

School street schemes restrict motor vehicle access during drop-off and pick-up times, allowing children and parents to safely walk, cycle, or scoot to and from school.

The scheme is a collaborative effort between the council, the two schools, and the community in Lees in an attempt to "create a better future for children in Oldham".

The local authority said the reduction in traffic will enhance safety around the schools and contribute to a more pleasant atmosphere for the entire community.

They are implementing a soft launch first to allow parents and residents an adjustment period for the changes. 

It will only be from September 9 that the ANPR cameras are fully operational, meaning from then on, any parents or drivers who do not comply with the School Street restrictions will receive a warning letter.

If they continue to ignore the rules after the warning, they will face a fine.

Council leader Cllr Arooj Shah said: "Ensuring the safety and well-being of our children is our top priority.

"The school street scheme at Hey with Zion and St Edwards RC Primary Schools not only enhances safety but also promotes a healthier environment for our young people.

"We are proud to lead this initiative and set a new standard for school travel in Greater Manchester."

Residents on nearby street Sunfield Way previously spoke out about the "dangerous" behaviours they saw at school drop run time. 

Azad Uddin, who lives nearby and even had his own child attending the school at the time of speaking to The Oldham Times but did the school run on foot, said their had even been an instance of a child nearly being ran over. 

He said: "It’s pretty dangerous on the roads for our children.

“We’ve got people parking on the pavements, we’ve got people mounting the pavements, we almost had an incident before the six-week holiday where a child almost got hit by a car, because they’re flying around the corner, the adults, to get to school on time. It’s too dangerous."

Examples of parking on the street at school drop off times Examples of parking on the street at school drop off times (Image: Newsquest)

He also sited an incident where a young girl was learning to ride her bike on the pavement before a car has mounted the curb to park and "almost took her off the pavement".

Mr Uddin was not the only resident upset and calling for a car ban, with one woman, who wished to remain anonymous, claiming she was "punched" after asking a parent not to park across her drive. 

The council held meetings with staff and parents at the schools as well as residents before implementing the scheme.

In June, residents said they were not optimistic about the scheme actually starting, and expressed doubts that it would come to pass after it was delayed once before.

But now the scheme is set to begin in just a matter of days and the headteacher at St Edwards RC Primary branded it a "fantastic opportunity". 

Headteacher Mr McMahon said: "We see the school street as a fantastic opportunity to encourage healthy and sustainable travel among our children and their families, while also addressing the issues of traffic around both schools.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to work closely with the council on this important project."

The council said residents on the streets will be eligible for an exemption and urged them to apply now for a permit to avoid fines when accessing their street.

Other exemptions eligible for permits to the traffic restrictions include emergency vehicles, council waste trucks, postal service vehicles, statutory undertakers attending emergency works, school buses, public transport, residents and businesses within the school street area, blue badge holders, and carers and healthcare workers serving properties within the school street area.