A North London council has raked in more than £1 million in less than two years from fines issued to drivers on one of the borough’s trial School Streets.
Brent Council has issued penalty charge notices (PCNs) totalling £1.15 million since the scheme was introduced in November 2024 to improve road safety and the environment.
Local ward councillor Barbara Want of the Liberal Democrats has raised concerns about the scheme outside Manor School in Kensal Rise, claiming that the signs are “too high and not properly visible”. During the 21 months the scheme has been in place, Brent Council has issued fines averaging £54,799 per month, with the restrictions operating only during school term time.
School Streets are being trialled across the borough to enforce road closures outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times for safety and environmental reasons. The restrictions are monitored by CCTV cameras and mobile enforcement teams, with drivers caught entering the restricted areas facing fines of £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.
Previously, it was reported that 70,000 PCNs were issued in just 12 months, at a rate of 384 per school day. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that, if the fines had been paid, this would have raised £11 million in a year from School Streets across the borough.
In July 2025, the two cameras enforcing the scheme outside Manor School, at the junctions of Hanover Road and Okehampton Road, and the junction of Chamberlayne Road and Okehampton Road, generated more than £107,000 in a single month.
Brent Council said the signs currently in place comply with Department for Transport guidelines. However, due to low compliance, the council has decided to install additional lower-level signs and gateway features to make the school road clearer for road users.
Cllr Want said: “For months I have been highlighting the huge volume of PCNs issued to drivers on the Manor School Street, which the Labour-run council had continued to dismiss. The fact that it has raked in more than £1m in two years should have told them something wasn’t right.
“The signs at the entry point to the road are too high so many drivers simply don’t see them and are unaware of the restrictions.
“I was initially told that the signs were compliant with regulations, but the number of fines issued suggests that it isn’t working. Nobody wants to get a PCN, so clearly compliant is not enough; it is failing children’s safety if drivers are still using the road.”
Although the money raised by the council has fallen, Cllr Want argues that, despite the new measures being introduced, the scheme is more “about revenue generation than improving road safety or air quality”.
She continued: “I’m pleased that Labour has finally listened and agreed to trial new gateway features but that will be of little consolation to the many drivers who have already been fined. It shouldn’t have taken me continuing to push for action when the data was so stark; I fear the scheme is more about revenue generation than improving road safety or air quality.”
Cllr Promise Knight, Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets, Transport and Public Realm, defended the scheme, saying: “School Streets exist to make the journey to and from school safer for children and families. That is particularly important at Manor School, which supports children with complex special education needs, including pupils who may have limited awareness of road danger.
“The current signage complies with Department for Transport requirements and is supported by additional advance warning signs. However, compliance remains too low, so we are installing further lower-level warning signs and trialling gateway features to make the School Street even clearer to motorists.
“The purpose of the scheme is to protect children by reducing congestion and improving air quality. We will continue to review the scheme and make practical improvements where they can help drivers comply.”
