Peterborough School Parking Problems Prompt New Safer Streets Project

New Peterborough Plans Target School-Run Parking Problems

Peterborough School Parking Problems Prompt New Safer Streets Project A new project is being developed to tackle long-running parking and safety problems around two Peterborough schools during the busy morning and afternoon school run. The scheme focuses on Mountsteven Avenue, where Discovery Primary Academy and Queen Katharine Academy are located next to each other, with residents reporting problems during school pick-up and drop-off times. The project is a joint venture involving Paston and Walton ward councillors, Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and the Wheel Cycle Trust. A first in-person consultation took place on Monday 21 September, giving parents and residents the opportunity to discuss problems with the area's roads and transport network. Parking was one of the main concerns raised during the consultation, with residents reporting difficulties finding spaces as well as inconsiderate parking around the schools. Residents also raised concerns about vehicle speeds, while some people attending the engagement event supported the idea of creating a safer school zone. One option being considered would involve closing roads to traffic at defined times around the beginning and end of the school day. Similar schemes are already operating elsewhere in Peterborough. Paston and Walton ward councillor Alex Rafiq said the area had experienced long-standing problems with parking and anti-social behaviour, including vehicles being parked on junctions and public footpaths. He said the safer-school-zone idea would form part of a wider consultation rather than being a final decision at this stage. The project could also include new zebra, parallel, continuous and informal crossings, alongside wider and smoother pavements, bicycle racks, benches and improved lighting. Street art and other changes to the design of the neighbourhood are also among the ideas being considered as part of the wider project. The Wheel Cycle Trust said feedback from residents would help inform future designs, with the project looking at the whole neighbourhood rather than focusing only on Mountsteven Avenue. Reduced speed limits and timed restrictions could also be considered as the plans develop, although the project remains at the consultation stage. Design work is expected to begin towards the end of 2026, with initial designs for the wider neighbourhood anticipated to be presented in spring or summer 2027. For parents driving to school, the proposals highlight the importance of planning ahead when parking demand is concentrated around a small number of streets. If new restrictions are introduced, drivers will need to check the final arrangements before using the area. For drivers looking for parking near schools, workplaces or other busy destinations, EveryonesParking can provide another way to plan parking before a journey rather than relying on finding a space at the last minute. The consultation will determine how the project develops, with any future parking restrictions or safer-school measures still subject to the design and decision-making process.