Stoke-on-Trent City Council has expanded a trial traffic restriction around Hillside Primary School, adding Stoneycroft in Baddeley Green as the sixth road to be designated a "School Street" from Wednesday 2 September. The move introduces time-limited driving bans intended to improve safety and ease parking pressure during term-time.
What the restriction means
Under the new arrangement motorists may be fined if they drive in Stoneycroft during the restricted periods on weekdays: 08:15–09:15 and 14:45–16:00. The council has installed cameras to enforce the ban and is running a consultation to decide whether the traffic measures should be made permanent.
- Effective from: Wednesday 2 September
- Restricted hours: 08:15–09:15 and 14:45–16:00 on weekdays
- Existing School Streets (already part of the trial): Field Avenue, Hill View, Malstone Avenue, Sandown Place, Sunridge Close
Parking changes and exemptions
Alongside the School Street, the council is installing additional double yellow lines on Goms Mill Road at its junction with Byatts Grove—10 metres to the north and 15 metres to the south—to address parking close to the junction. Residents of Stoneycroft will be able to apply for a free exemption that allows them to drive in the street during the restricted hours.
Local reaction has been mixed. Some residents welcomed the change as a long-overdue attempt to tackle parking problems during term time, while others said the brief nature of the restriction made it less of a nuisance to them personally.
"There used to be a lot of issues – some used to stop us from parking. When you are coming home it's the last thing you want,"
One resident described the parking situation as having been intrusive enough to require physical measures. "People were parking in front of my gate and they wouldn't move until they got their kids in. We had to have bollards put in because of people parking – we even had them parking in my drive," they said.
Background and local context
The Stoneycroft addition follows an earlier stage of the council's trial that placed five surrounding roads under the School Streets scheme. Councillors and residents raised concerns when Stoneycroft was initially not included. Ward councillor Dave Evans confirmed cameras have now been installed for the new School Street as residents had requested.
| Road | Current status |
|---|---|
| Field Avenue | Part of School Streets trial |
| Hill View | Part of School Streets trial |
| Malstone Avenue | Part of School Streets trial |
| Sandown Place | Part of School Streets trial |
| Sunridge Close | Part of School Streets trial |
| Stoneycroft | Newly designated School Street from 2 September |
Residents have told reporters they hope the extension will address long-standing issues of obstruction and parking at key times of the day. One said that drivers used to leave vehicles that prevented them parking near their own home when returning from work. Another observed that traffic was heavy for only a short period and did not personally cause a problem.
Next steps for the council and community
The council is inviting responses to its consultation before making a final decision on whether the Stoneycroft restriction will become permanent. If adopted long term, the measure would remain one of the city's targeted approaches to reduce vehicle congestion and improve safety outside schools. Enforcement and exemptions will remain important local issues to monitor, particularly for residents who rely on vehicle access during restricted hours.
For now, cameras are in place and residents will be able to apply for the exemption scheme. The council's consultation responses and any subsequent decisions will determine how the arrangement develops in the coming months.
