School Street exemptions
You can apply for an exemption that will allow you to drive and park within a School Street location during operating times.
View the School Street locations and operating times.
We’ll add your vehicle registration to our exemptions list if your application is approved. This will stop you from getting a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) when entering the School Street during operating times.
An exemption is virtual. You will not receive a paper permit and will not have to display anything on your vehicle.
An exemption lasts for 2 years.
Taxis
Taxis are not exempt unless they have a Blue Badge holder customer who lives on the School Street and whose journey has been pre-booked. Otherwise, taxis will need to pick up and drop off as close to the destination as possible without entering the School Street locations.
To apply for the exemption for pre-booked taxis you must notify Medway Council of the journey. To do this, taxi drivers must email permits@medway.gov.uk within 48 hours of the journey with the following evidence:
- pick-up or drop-off location
- date of the journey
- vehicle registration number.
If drivers cannot provide this information within 48 hours, a PCN may be issued. However, they may still appeal the PCN by providing proof of the pre-booked journey.
Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, and failure to provide proof or supporting evidence with the appeal will result in the appeal being rejected.
Who can apply for an exemption
You can apply for an exemption if you:
- live in a restricted street
- work at a business in a restricted street
- work at a school in a restricted street
- or your child are a Blue Badge holder and need access to a restricted street
- are a carer of vulnerable residents who live in a restricted street.
We'll also consider other exemptions on a case by case basis.
If you’re contracted by us to provide school transport, your vehicle is exempt for all School Street locations. If you’d like to check your vehicle is on our list, email permits@medway.gov.uk.
Emergency service vehicles, school buses, utility providers attending emergencies, postal services and waste vehicles are automatically exempt.
What you need to apply
You can apply for an exemption using our online form.
Eligibility proof
You’ll need to upload evidence to support your online application:
- Resident: proof of address such as a utility bill (dated within the last 3 months, and not vehicle related)
- Business employee: a letter from the business you work for to prove you're an employee
- School employee: proof you work at a school such as a letter from your manager on headed paper
- Blue Badge holder: a photo of the front and back of your Blue Badge. You’ll also need to describe why you need access to a School Street during operating times
- Child with disability: a letter from a health professional to confirm your child is unable to walk or finds it very difficult to walk
- Professional, a carer or medical practitioner: a company letter to prove you're an employee and need an exemption.
Vehicle proof
You’ll also need to prove you own a vehicle or drive a company vehicle.
We'll accept either:
- your vehicle registration document (logbook or V5C)
- insurance policy, including your name, address and vehicle registration
- Motability lease
- a letter from your employer with details of the company vehicle you drive.
Apply for an exemption
If you have more than 1 vehicle, you’ll need to complete an application for each one.
Apply for a School Street exemption
After you’ve applied
We aim to respond to your application within 10 working days.
If your application is approved, we’ll email you and add your vehicle registration to our list for the School Street you have an exemption for.
If your application is rejected, or we need more information, we’ll email you to let you know why.
Exemptions expire after 2 years. You’ll receive an email reminder 30 days before the exemption expires. You'll then need to apply again online.