Oxfordshire aims to improve school safety with new ANPR-backed school streets scheme

Oxfordshire County Council launches consultation on a new school streets initiative using Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras to restrict traffic outside Didcot schools, part of a broader effort to enhance pedestrian safety and curb congestion.

Oxfordshire County Council has launched a consultation on a proposed school streets scheme to enhance safety and reduce traffic outside St Birinus School and Willowbrook Community School, both located on Mereland Road in Didcot. The scheme involves the installation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to restrict vehicle access during school drop-off and pick-up times, with active hours from 8am to 9am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm. The cameras would monitor entry points to the designated streets and issue penalty charge notices automatically to drivers of non-exempt vehicles entering the restricted area during these periods. Residents living within the school street zones can register their vehicles as exempt to maintain access, according to the council’s proposals.

This initiative forms part of a wider strategy by Oxfordshire County Council to use ANPR technology for enforcing school street closures across multiple schools in the county. Earlier in 2024, the council approved similar installations outside five primary schools in Oxford and Didcot that had been trialling timed road closures with volunteers. The switch to ANPR cameras aims to ensure consistent enforcement regardless of volunteer availability and has been introduced following incidents where volunteers managing road closures faced threats and abuses. Schools involved in the broader programme include Manor Primary in Didcot, St Mary and St John Church of England Primary, Sandhills Community Primary, Tyndale Community Primary, and New Hinksey Church of England Primary.

While the council asserts that school streets can create safer environments by significantly reducing traffic congestion and enabling safer pedestrian spaces for children and families, some local councillors have expressed reservations. Ian Snowdon, a Didcot West district and county councillor, voiced concerns about the extensive coverage and the proposed installation of multiple cameras around St Birinus and Willowbrook schools. He questioned the availability of safe park-and-ride options nearby and cautioned against assuming that a scheme successful in one location could be directly replicated in another without adjustment. David Rouane, leader of South Oxfordshire District Council and a Didcot councillor, highlighted the challenges pedestrians face in busy school areas and supported the pilot, noting that trials are necessary to identify any unintended consequences. He also pointed out that traffic reduction schemes tend to be more feasible in Oxford due to greater alternative routes for diverted traffic.

The discussion around school streets reflects a broader county-wide approach to improving road safety and encouraging active travel among school children. Oxfordshire’s ‘School Streets’ programme aims to increase walking, cycling, and scooting, with timed road closures enforced by ANPR cameras dedicated solely to school drop-off and pick-up times. This initiative is part of a larger enforcement expansion, as recent council approvals indicate plans to deploy ANPR cameras at 20 new locations county-wide to enforce various traffic restrictions, including bus lanes and no-entry points, with fines set at £70, reduced to £35 if paid promptly.

The trial periods at schools like St Birinus and Willowbrook will test the suitability of this approach in a suburban setting, seeking to balance safety improvements with practical access needs. The councils remain open to feedback from local communities as part of the consultation process to ensure that the measures implemented provide tangible benefits without undue disruption.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

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
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from Oxfordshire County Council dated 5 September 2024, announcing the installation of ANPR cameras at five primary schools, including Manor Primary School in Didcot. ([news.oxfordshire.gov.uk](https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/school-streets-programme-to-install-anpr-cameras/?utm_source=openai)) The article was published on 15 September 2025, indicating a freshness gap of over a year. The report includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. Additionally, the narrative has been republished across multiple outlets, including the BBC, indicating widespread dissemination. ([bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24pm8yze31o?utm_source=openai)) This suggests that the content may have been recycled across various platforms. The earlier version from 2024 shows consistent figures and quotes, with no discrepancies noted. The inclusion of updated data may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, as reported in the 2024 press release. ([news.oxfordshire.gov.uk](https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/school-streets-programme-to-install-anpr-cameras/?utm_source=openai)) These quotes appear to be consistent with the earlier material, with no variations noted. No new quotes are introduced in the 2025 article, suggesting that the content may have been recycled.

Source reliability

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative originates from the Oxford Mail, a reputable local news outlet. However, the content is based on a press release from Oxfordshire County Council, which is a government entity. While the council is a legitimate source, the reliance on a press release may indicate a lack of independent verification. The earlier version from 2024 was also sourced from the council’s official communications. ([news.oxfordshire.gov.uk](https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/school-streets-programme-to-install-anpr-cameras/?utm_source=openai))

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative discusses the implementation of ANPR cameras at Manor Primary School in Didcot, a measure announced by Oxfordshire County Council in September 2024. ([news.oxfordshire.gov.uk](https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/school-streets-programme-to-install-anpr-cameras/?utm_source=openai)) The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The language and tone are consistent with official council communications, and the details align with previously reported information. No new, surprising, or unsupported claims are made, and the narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, or dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is based on a press release from Oxfordshire County Council dated 5 September 2024, announcing the installation of ANPR cameras at five primary schools, including Manor Primary School in Didcot. ([news.oxfordshire.gov.uk](https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/school-streets-programme-to-install-anpr-cameras/?utm_source=openai)) The article was published on 15 September 2025, indicating a freshness gap of over a year. The content has been recycled across multiple outlets, including the BBC, suggesting widespread dissemination. ([bbc.co.uk](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c24pm8yze31o?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes direct quotes from Councillor Andrew Gant, Cabinet Member for Transport Management, as reported in the 2024 press release. ([news.oxfordshire.gov.uk](https://news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/school-streets-programme-to-install-anpr-cameras/?utm_source=openai)) The language and tone are consistent with official council communications, and the details align with previously reported information. However, the reliance on a press release and the recycling of older material without significant updates or new information raise concerns about the freshness and originality of the content. Therefore, the overall assessment is a ‘FAIL’ with high confidence.