A mum has been left frustrated by a parking scheme which will stop her being able to drive on her own road for certain times of the day.

Georgina Phillips lives with her husband and their two children aged one and four in Symons Avenue, Chatham.

Greenvale Primary School is also on the road and is part of the new School Streets scheme being introduced on Monday.

As part of the scheme, roads outside seven schools in Medway will become pedestrian and cycle-only zones at certain times of day in a bid to reduce congestion and improve pupils' safety.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be used to catch vehicles entering the zone.

Anyone caught using the roads will be charged £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

Residents in the catchment area, including Mrs Phillips, received letters telling them to apply for an exemption.

But despite trying twice, the couple have had their application denied.

The retail worker said: "They claim I've been rejected as my address isn't in the catchment area.

"My address is Symons Avenue - all my bills and even the deeds to my mortgage are addressed to here and so I've sent a utility bill within three months showing this.

"The only explanation I can think of is because my house doesn't look like it is in Symons Avenue as it is on the junction with Haig Avenue."

Mrs Phillips is now worried she'll end up being fined and it will now take longer for her husband to get to work to avoid the route.

The mum-of-two, who owns the property with her partner, lives in one of 36 addresses under the ME4 5HU postal code – leaving her confused as to why others in the road have not faced the same problem.

She added: "The letter came through about three weeks ago saying we could apply for the permits, so why post it through my door if I'm not allowed to have one?

"My sister-in-law lives further along Symons Avenue, about five or six houses down from the school, and her application was accepted the next day.

"The people next door to me can get a permit. But I can't.

"So of all the houses in the road I think we're one of the only ones who hasn't been given the exemption which we just don't understand."

The School Street scheme will be in place in the street between 8am and 9am and from 3pm until 4pm during term time.

In a letter sent to Mrs Phillips, seen by KentOnline, the council said: "Unfortunately your address does not fall on the exemption list.

"You will not be able to enter the street and access parking areas during operating times.

“School Streets restrictions are only effective between the hours of 8am and 9am, and from 3pm until 4pm, and anyone already parked on the street before these periods can remain parked.

“They are also free to exit the street without contravening the restrictions.”

The local authority has since said Mrs Phillips has not been granted an exemption for the two vehicles because the family has alternative ways to access their property.

Mrs Phillips, who hopes her daughter will attend Greenvale this September, agrees something needs to be done to address congestion, but does not think the scheme will help.

She said: "They are going to be pushing all of the traffic out of Symons Avenue, so cars are going to be parked on the corner where my house is and further up from the school.

"Maybe moving the bus stop so it's not on the junction, or getting a lollypop lady to help with the traffic, should be looked at because parents can drive so dangerously here.

"I don't have an issue with the scheme itself as it's going to prevent accidents outside the school gates where there has been a few near misses there.

"It's just the council hasn't thought the plans out for the congestion on surrounding roads."

The scheme has already sparked anger among locals. Last Wednesday (February 28), a camera installed in the road was cut down by vandals.

Speaking the following morning, Mrs Phillips said: “My next-door neighbour asked me if I heard this massive bang outside.

"When I saw it down while taking my daughter to school it looked like a really clear cut, so something like an angle grinder or a really good power tool was used."

Medway Council says the aim of the scheme is to create a safer environment, improve air quality and reduce congestion, by reducing the number of vehicles outside schools.

It follows consultations – which involved schools, residents and parents – held in June and September last year.

Cllr Tris Osborne, portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement, said: “I’m delighted to see the introduction of the School Streets scheme, which will improve safety for children and improve air quality.

“The restrictions will take a while to get used to, hence a six month warning period, but ultimately there are benefits for everyone, from drivers around Medway to school users and residents.”