Controversial plans to fine parents for driving to roads outside their child's school will begin next month.

A proposal to implement School Streets was first put forward by Medway Council in June.

The scheme involves installing a pedestrian and cycle-only zone on the street around a school at set times during term time.

Eleven schools were originally considered, however the local authority has now reduced this to seven.

The first to see the initiative rolled out will be Greenvale Primary in Chatham – a school with 110 pupils on its books aged between three and 11.

The School Street will be in place between 8am and 9am and from 3pm until 4pm on school days in Symons Avenue from Monday, March 11.

A spokesman for the council's project team said: "Medway Council is establishing several School Streets across the community to make it safer and more pleasant for pupils to walk, wheel and cycle to and from school.

"The success of School Streets around the country has demonstrated the positive impact they can have on the school community, and we are excited to be introducing the initiative to Medway.

"As well as creating a more pleasant environment for children and parents to walk, wheel and cycle, the programme will also play a key role in reducing congestion and improving air quality outside our school gates."

It means means residents, parents and even school staff will be banned from driving in Symons Avenue, unless they apply for an exemption permit.

Carers of vulnerable residents who live within the impacted street, plus teachers, school staff, pupils, parents and carers who are Blue Badge holders can also apply for an exemption.

Emergency vehicles, school buses, utility providers attending emergencies, postal services and waste vehicles are automatically exempt.

The scheme will be enforced via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras being used to capture vehicles entering a zone without an exemption.

However, many were not happy with the scheme when it was first announced in the summer.

Rochester parent Katie Tolhurst feared the plan had not been properly thought through, and said stopping cars driving down the school’s road would merely push the problem to more dangerous roads nearby.

She said: “I think this is an absolutely ridiculous plan and as a resident I am 100% against it.”

Anyone who breaks the rules in the first six months will receive a warning through the post. When six months is up, if they do so again they will be fined.

The charge will be £70, but reduced by 50% to £35 if paid within 21 days.

People can apply for an exemption using the Medway Council permit system here.

The exemption will be online and not in the form of a physical copy, and users will not have to display anything on their vehicle.

The plans have been put forward thanks to £486,418 funding from the government’s Active Travel Fund.

Cllr Simon Curry (Lab, Luton), Medway Council’s portfolio holder covering transport strategy, previously said: “We are delighted to have received nearly half a million pounds to help make the roads around our schools even safer for children and their families.

“The proposed School Streets scheme aims to encourage more families to leave their cars at home on the school run and walk, cycle and scoot.

“As well as supporting our climate change aspirations and aim to help improve air quality outside schools, the project will also make Medway even more child-friendly.”

The seven areas where School Streets will be put in place are:

Burnt Oak Primary School: Cornwall Road, Gillingham
Greenvale Primary School: Symons Avenue, Chatham
Miers Court Primary School: Silverspot Close, Rainham
Phoenix Primary School: Glencoe Road, Chatham
St Mary's Catholic Primary School: Greenfield Road, Gillingham
St Peter's Infant School: Holcombe Road, Rochester
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School: Bleakwood Road, Walderslade