Haringey Council celebrates the expansion of its School Streets programme on World Car Free Day, aiming to improve safety and air quality for thousands of schoolchildren with nearly 50 zones by 2026.
Thousands of children in the London Borough of Haringey are benefiting from safer and healthier journeys to school, as the council marked World Car Free Day by celebrating the success of its expanding School Streets programme. The event took place at Bounds Green Infants and Juniors, one of the borough’s newest School Streets, where Cabinet Members Mike Hakata and Emily Arkell joined teachers and pupils to highlight the positive impact of these initiatives.
Introduced at the start of this school term, the new schemes at Bounds Green and Welbourne Primary in Tottenham have contributed to Haringey’s total of 35 operational School Streets. These zones transform the daily school run by restricting motor vehicle access during drop-off and pick-up times, allowing only people walking, cycling, wheeling, or those with vehicle exemption permits to enter, thereby creating cleaner air and safer streets for children. The council reports that more than 17,000 children across 44 educational establishments are protected by pedestrian and cycle-only zones covering nearly 12.6 kilometres during these critical periods.
School Streets are part of Haringey’s broader Streets for People initiative, aimed at promoting greener, more active travel habits among young residents. The schemes have been praised for encouraging walking, cycling, and scootering to school, reducing pollution and fostering a more pleasant environment at school gates. Mike Hakata, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport, emphasised World Car Free Day as an opportunity to celebrate these improvements and preview future plans. According to Haringey Council, two more School Streets schemes are expected to launch soon, extending benefits to more communities.
Beyond the local level, the importance of such initiatives has drawn wider attention. On the same day, a London-wide air quality monitoring project was launched to measure the efficacy of School Streets, with nitrogen dioxide levels being recorded at 18 schools. This comes amid concerns that the school run constitutes around a quarter of morning traffic on weekdays, contributing significantly to urban pollution. Transport for London data shows that most school trips are less than one kilometre, reinforcing the potential for active travel.
Looking ahead, Haringey is preparing to nearly triple its School Streets coverage by 2026, with plans to introduce 38 more zones. This expansion will see a total of 61 School Streets encompassing roughly 21 kilometres of roadways restricted during school start and finish times. The new restrictions will be enforced by traffic cameras, ensuring compliance and helping the borough work towards its goals of reducing traffic congestion and pollution.
These initiatives reflect a growing commitment across London to foster healthier and safer environments for children. By curbing motor traffic during school runs and encouraging more sustainable travel, Haringey and other boroughs are contributing to broader efforts to combat air pollution, improve road safety, and promote active lifestyles among young people.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
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The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
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Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is fresh, dated 22 September 2025, and reports on recent events in Haringey, London. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 22 September 2025. The narrative is based on a press release from Haringey Council, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score. ([haringey.gov.uk](https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/20250922/world-car-free-day-celebrated-new-school-streets?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Cllr Mike Hakata and Cllr Emily Arkell are unique to this narrative. No identical quotes appear in earlier material. The wording matches the press release from Haringey Council, indicating originality. ([haringey.gov.uk](https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/20250922/world-car-free-day-celebrated-new-school-streets?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Haringey Council, which adds credibility. The Highways News website is a known platform for local government news, further supporting the reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims about the expansion of School Streets in Haringey are plausible and align with previous reports from the council. The narrative includes specific details such as the number of children benefiting, the locations of the new School Streets, and the involvement of council members, all of which are consistent with known information. The language and tone are appropriate for the region and topic. No excessive or off-topic details are present, and the tone is formal and consistent with official communications. ([haringey.gov.uk](https://www.haringey.gov.uk/news/20250922/world-car-free-day-celebrated-new-school-streets?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reputable organisation. All claims are plausible and supported by specific details, with no signs of disinformation. The language and tone are appropriate, and the structure is coherent. Therefore, the narrative passes the fact-checking criteria with high confidence.