Croydon is to trial pedestrian zones next to schools so parents and their children walk more and use cars less.

Three schools have signed up to the six-month council scheme from September aimed at improving road safety, reducing pollution and getting people to walk more.

The pedestrian zones will be in place on school days along the roads approaching:

• Woodcote Primary in Dunsfold Rise, Coulsdon (including Fairfield Way and Meadow Rise)

• Heavers Farm Primary in Dinsdale Gardens, Selhurst

• St Chad’s Catholic Primary in Alverstone Gardens, Selhurst.

A governor at Woodcote Primary, James Collins said it was an "imperfect problem with an imperfect solution."

"We've been lobbying police and council saying that the area is dangerous and there is a risk to children.

"This is the council's response to the bad parking and speeding that's been happening."

The pedestrian zones at Heavers Farm and St Chad’s will be from 8-9.30am and 2-4pm, and the zone outside Woodcote Primary will be from 8-9.30am and 2.30-4pm.

The roads will not be physically closed to traffic – instead, the council will use temporary automatic number plate recognition cameras to scan if vehicles passing through have advance permission.

Mr Collins said that there would no doubt be parents upset by this change.

"We’re sympathetic but we asked the council to do something about the dangerous driving and they have," he said.

"If you’re a working parent and you have to drop your kid off you'll probably be unhappy.

"Whether it’s the perfect soultuion is for people to decide and then to liase with the council and give their feedback."

Residents, their visitors or school staff will be able to enter or leave the zones by applying free of charge for an advance access permit. Owners of cars that pass through the zones without a permit face a £130 fixed penalty notice, which can be reduced to £65 if paid within a fortnight.

Signs will be in place to inform drivers about the pedestrian zones, and council staff will marshal parking and road safety on nearby streets.

If it proves successful, the scheme will become regular at these schools and could be trialled at others in the borough.