Published: Monday 14 December 2020
School staff in Kensington and Chelsea will have the option to park in the borough, free of charge, until April.
The Council has extended its free parking offer – which was due to come to an end this month – until the Easter holidays to help schools during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the pandemic began, more than 5,000 key workers, including NHS and school staff, have been able to park for free or at reduced rates around the borough.
Cllr Josh Rendell, lead member for children and families services, said:
“Our school staff have been remarkable throughout this pandemic, supporting children in their education at home through the first lockdown and in schools since June. The challenges have been enormous, but schools have risen to them. We are glad to be able to support free parking for longer as a token of our appreciation and to make sure teachers and support staff can continue their important work whilst there is reduced capacity on public transport.”
The scheme has been extended whilst capacity is still lower than usual on public transport. It is hoped that by Easter, the vaccination rollout will allow travel to return to near normal.
Jeremy Barton, Deputy Headteacher at Colville Primary School, said:
"The Parking Dispensation Scheme has been invaluable to my colleagues and I during this pandemic. It was fantastic boost moral to hear that the scheme has been extended to Easter. Knowing that we can drive to and from school at no additional cost has greatly reduced colleague's anxiety around contracting Covid-19. It has enabled us to continue to deliver a high-quality education to the community we serve."
Staff already listed on the Council’s free parking lists do not need to do anything. New staff can register for their offer via their headteacher and the Council.