The key facts
- Over 21 months of the scheme at Manor School, £1.15 million in fines were issued — an average of £54,799 per month
- It was previously reported that 70,000 penalty notices were issued over 12 months, about 384 per school day
- Councillor Barbara Want doubts the visibility of the signs and the scheme's aims; the council promises additional signs
More than a million pounds in fines at a single school
The council of the London borough of Brent has issued £1.15 million in fines to drivers in just under two years under the School Street scheme in force outside Manor School in Kensal Rise since November 2024. The scheme bans car traffic during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, with compliance monitored by cameras and mobile inspectors; the fine is £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days. It operates only during term time, and over 21 months the council collected an average of £54,799 per month, BBC News reports, citing the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The scale of the penalty notices
The figures show this is not a matter of isolated violations. It was previously reported that 70,000 penalty notices were issued under the scheme over 12 months — an average of 384 per school day. In July 2025, the two cameras covering the stretch outside Manor School brought in more than £107,000 in a single month. For comparison, according to the BBC, the School Streets scheme as a whole is expanding — in May it was reported that there were plans to add another 200 roads to it.
The dispute over signage and the scheme's aims
Ward councillor Barbara Want said the signs are 'positioned too high and are poorly visible', and questioned the scheme's effectiveness: 'If drivers are still driving down the road, that fails the task of keeping children safe. I fear the scheme is more about raising revenue than about road safety or air quality.' Brent Council responded that the installed signs comply with Department for Transport guidance, but nevertheless decided to install additional signs at a lower level and 'gateway' features to make things clearer for drivers. Cabinet member Promise Knight stressed that the aim of School Streets is to reduce congestion and improve air quality on the school run, and that the scheme will continue to be reviewed. Thus the dispute over whether the scheme works as a safety measure or as a source of revenue remains open: both sides rely on the same facts — a huge volume of fines alongside, according to the councillor, continuing car traffic.
Image source, Google The School Street scheme was introduced outside Manor School in Kensal Rise in November 2024
