15:51, 09 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
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Michelle Oliver, from Strood, was hit with the penalty for entering the restricted ‘School Streets’ zone surrounding Phoenix Primary School during its operating hours(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)<\/p>\n
There are renewed calls for a review of a controversial traffic management scheme after a mobile hairdresser says she got fined despite the warning sign not being “fully in view”. Michelle Oliver, from Strood, was hit with the penalty for entering the restricted ‘School Streets’ zone surrounding Phoenix Primary School during its operating hours.<\/p>\n
The 53-year-old had been travelling southbound along Magpie Hall Road when she turned into the restricted section in Glencoe Road, Chatham<\/a>. However, she claims the fine is unfair as the warning signs at the right turning weren’t clearly visible as they were angled so she could only see it from the side – without the key information – as she approached.<\/p>\n Michelle appealed to Medway<\/a> Council – which operates the scheme – and an independent tribunal but both upheld the fine. Despite this the hairdresser maintains the signage isn’t clear enough.<\/p>\n She said: “I had a client to visit in Sturla Road and I haven’t actually been to this area for quite some time, so the School Street scheme is new to me. I came up Magpie Hall Road, it was very busy, I took in all the signs that I could see and made the turn into Glencoe when I knew it was safe.<\/p>\n The image of Michelle entering the school street during its operating hours. She claims the fine is unfair as the warning signs at the right turning weren’t clearly visible as they were angled so she could only see it from the side – without the key information – as she approached.(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)<\/p>\n “When I got the fine through the post I was quite baffled because I didn’t even know it was here. I noticed in the photographs the signs were fully in view, but my car was in profile and there wasn’t a way for me to see it anywhere near as clearly as the cameras.<\/p>\n “I actually came back to have a look because I thought maybe it is my bad, maybe I missed it. I had to laugh because I just thought, really? Are we supposed to see that?<\/p>\n “I don’t even think you’d see that one sign, whichever direction you approached it.” She says despite the adjudicator’s decision, she knows other people have had the same problem.<\/p>\n Michelle continued: “When I actually saw what they had put as a result, they were only really interested that I had driven through here between three and the four o’clock. I wasn’t disputing that.<\/p>\n “I knew I had driven through at that time. My argument was you can’t see the sign, but they weren’t really interested in that.”<\/p>\n The 53-year-old had been travelling southbound along Magpie Hall Road when she turned into the restricted section in Glencoe Road, Chatham(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)<\/p>\n The businesswoman has been canvassing opinion online on local Facebook groups and says the vast majority of people agree with her. “So I know it’s not just me,” she added.<\/p>\n “I know there is a problem with the signage. The best I can hope for is that somebody takes a look at the signage and realises they need to give the drivers a better chance.”<\/p>\n Last month, the Towns’ council reviewed the performance of the first year of the School Streets scheme, looking at the first seven locations, of which Phoenix Primary School is one. It found there had been an increase in the number of children walking to school and roads around school seemed calmer.<\/p>\n However, the report came in for criticism for being based upon just 156 survey responses and the continuing high number of motorists still receiving fines. When approached for comment Medway Council said it remained “satisfied” that signage at its School Street sites is adequate and “compliant with the relevant legal standards”.<\/p>\n However the authority says it will continue to review feedback, including comments on signage, to ensure the schemes “operate effectively”. A spokesperson added: “The School Streets initiative has been shown to create safer, healthier streets for Medway’s children, and is having a positive impact on road safety and more sustainable, cleaner journeys to and from school.<\/p>\n The School Street scheme was introduced in March 2024 and now applies to streets around 12 schools across Medway(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)<\/p>\n “When each School Streets scheme has been introduced, warning notices have been issued instead of PCNs for first-time offences during the first six months, as we know changes can take some time for people to get used to.” Shadow cabinet member for regeneration, community and housing Cllr Andrew Lawrence (Con) remains unconvinced and says the whole scheme needs a full review to ensure it is legal.<\/p>\n He said: “Looking after and protecting our children is absolutely paramount in my thinking, but the fact is there are very, very few accidents involving children outside of primary schools. In the year before the first set of schools, there were only two very minor incidents involving primary school children.<\/p>\n “So the whole thing about this is about protecting children, but the data certainly doesn’t show an issue. I think most motorists are inadvertently going into a School Street scheme area and finding they’ve been fined.<\/p>\n “From that perspective, the scheme is not working as set out. Back in January, the Conservatives said there should be a review of the scheme to make sure that all the signage is legal.<\/p>\n “We want to make sure it’s not misleading and that if you accidentally turn into what is a school street, you’ve got the ability to escape it. We would review the scheme, make sure the signage is legal, and then we would look very closely at the data to see those schools which actually benefit from the scheme.”<\/p>\n Some fines have been overturned when taken to an independent adjudicator, such as Chris Lee who had the fine he received on Richmond Road in Gillingham<\/a> quashed due to inadequate signage. But Medway Council says the vast majority of fines issued are upheld and many fines taken to the adjudicators side with the authority.<\/p>\n The School Street scheme was introduced in March 2024 and now applies to streets around 12 schools across Medway. Motorists who drive down the streets during the hours of operation \u2013 at the beginning and end of the school day \u2013 are fined \u00a370, but this is halved if paid within two weeks.<\/p>\n Exemptions are available by obtaining a permit by being a resident or by having a blue badge and emergency vehicles are also exempt to the restrictions and taxi drivers transporting blue badge passengers can also have fines voided.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Photo-2026-03-31-08-35-58.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Michelle](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Michelle-Still.jpg\")
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