Drivers warned of major traffic restrictions as motorists face £70 fines for breaking new rules

The School Streets scheme will run for 18 months and imposes a temporary restriction on traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times.

The scheme will be enforced only during term times, with cameras being operational during the morning and afternoon school run times.

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Drivers will need a permit to travel in the zone during these times or could risk a £70 fine through automatic number plate recognition cameras.

They will be used to monitor vehicles entering the School Streets zone and drivers without permits could be fined.

The schools taking part in the pilot include Gobowen Primary, Woodside Primary, Oswestry, Mereside Primary, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch Junior.

A pilot scheme will be introduced at St John’s Primary, Bridgnorth, later this year while Coleham Primary in Shrewsbury has already been trialling the measure.

The scheme is 100 per cent funded by a Department for Transport grant and is estimated to cost approximately £31,000 for schools with one camera and £62,000 for schools with two cameras.

Any surplus created by the School Streets measure will be reinvested back into the project to enable the continued rollout across the county.

The first six months of the pilot, however, will be a grace period for first-time offenders. The cost of the penalty can be reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

The council explained that enforcing school streets allows “us to create safer environments for children and the school community”.

There are a few exemptions to the traffic measures, which include residents, school staff and Blue Badge holders.

A spokesperson for the council told GB News: “We’ve given people time to get used to the School Streets scheme before we put the cameras up and start enforcement - as well as ensuring residents and other permit holders have had time to get their permits.

“For a first offence, people will get a warning letter, and then be fined after that.

“Our aim is to create a safer environment, so we’re hoping that because people have had a few weeks to get used to the scheme, the number of people breaching the restrictions will be fewer.”

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Permits for the zone are available for 12-month periods commencing on the date requested by the driver.

Vehicles aren't allowed to enter the zone during restricted times unless they've been granted an exemption. But they can exit a school street zone at any time without a permit.