Harrow Council has been accused of putting income targets before residents in a scheme to reduce school congestion.

The council is currently undertaking trials of school streets programmes, which aim to reduce traffic and improve air quality by restricting road access during pick-up and drop-off times, enforced by CCTV cameras.

The opposition Labour group says the council was forced to reveal "excessive" income targets of £1.48 million over three years - £180,000 in the first year, £495,000 in the second and £810,000 in the third.

While suuporting the scheme's aims, Labour councillors are concerned that "hidden" CCTV cameras will appear without notification and signs placed out of clear view up lampposts will mean residents are penalised.

Group leader Cllr David Perry said: “I have been extremely concerned to learn of the excessive income targets for implementing a scheme as positive as school streets.

“Residents have already fallen foul, with the appeal process putting income targets first instead of residents.

“As mentioned last year, the council are continuing to install widespread CCTV cameras to fine residents in these areas, unnecessarily penalising residents for the sake of hitting a financial target.”

Harrow Council said Labour’s claims were misleading, and that profit after three years of the scheme would be £47,688.

They also claimed the income targets were lower than other Schools Street schemes operated by labour.

The council's Conservative leader Cllr Paul Osborn said: “We make no apology for enforcing schemes, which have been implemented with the clear support of local people, to make our streets safer for our children.”

“The income forecast is based on the schemes that Labour implemented in 2020.

“They chose the locations of the CCTV cameras and implemented the appeals process.”

Harrow Council said 18 School Street Schemes are planned, and if they went ahead they would be forecast to earn £810,000 in the third year of the scheme.

Cllr Osborn continued: “Labour’s claims about the forecast income figures are misleading.

“These numbers would equate to an income forecast of £45,000 per scheme, per year.

“This figure is approximately £17,000 lower than the average yearly income for comparable school street schemes operated by other London councils, most of which are controlled by Labour.”