Traffic-free zones set up around schools to make streets safer are still being ignored by motorists who continue to break the rules - and more schools are set to added.

Six months since so-called “School Streets” were set up by Medway Council around seven sites nearly 2,000 warning letters are still being dished out each month to drivers flouting the restrictions.

The scheme, which introduces a temporary restriction on traffic in key roads around schools during set hours in the morning and afternoon, was brought into effect on March 11 this year.

But in June alone 2264 motorists had been caught ignoring the rules and received a warning.

For the first six months of the scheme, until September 11, drivers will receive a letter reminding them of the restrictions, but after then they will receive a £70 fine, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days.

The latest data from Medway Council shows there has been a decline in the number of cars passing through these streets when they shouldn’t but it still remains an issue.

In Richmond Road, Gillingham, which is the “School Street” for Burnt Oak Primary School, there were 1,836 letters sent to motorists reminding them in March.

By June, the number had reduced to 1,339 motorists and in the first three weeks of July alone 824 letters were sent for those entering the road.

Glencoe Road is one of the restricted streets for Phoenix Primary School in Chatham where cars are not allowed between 8am and 9am, or between 3pm and 4pm.

However, in June 535 motorists receiving warnings for ignoring the rules and entering the street.

Residents in the affected streets can get an exemption which allows them to drive on their street when the rules are in force, but residents are divided on the scheme.

Lara Peters, 39, believes the scheme has made a huge difference and she now feels her nine-year-old son can safely walk to school.

She said: “We’re definitely seeing fewer cars and it’s a lot safer for the children. I think it's perfect. They stop them coming up at certain times.

“There's no one hitting the kerbs or jumping on the kerbs or people flying up the road anymore.

“Before this it was mental, too busy. I couldn't send my son to school on his own.

“I literally live two seconds away from the school and I'd have to walk with him to even cross the road outside our house because people are just flying up and down.

“It's a lot safer now. A lot safer.”

Salma Khan, 61, who is blind, says she’s in favour of the programme but thinks there needs to be certain exemptions for taxis and other drivers who are helping residents in the street.

She said: “Before the scheme you had to shut your window if you were watching TV because the traffic noise was so loud.

“So I'm in favour of it, as it’s really cut down the amount of traffic by about 70%, but it shouldn’t apply for taxis, ambulances.

“I go to a blind club and these rules have made getting about difficult because taxis are not exempt and neither are blind club volunteer drivers.

“So I’d like there to be a slight change to give them an exemption.”

Christor Ivanov says the scheme doesn’t really affect him as he has received an exemption permit as a resident, but it does cause problems for visitors who stay with him.

He’d like to see some sort of day pass people could apply for to be exempt for a short period - but he’s sceptical about the council’s motives and thinks it’s mostly about raising revenue through the fines.

Maureen Springet, 63, has lived in Glencoe Road for 27 years and now struggles with mobility.

She’s reliant on her in-laws, particularly Glenda McGinty, 81, to help her get to the shops or doctors’ appointments, but they say the new rules have meant Glenda is already receiving fines despite trying to get an exemption from the council.

And because Glenda isn’t a resident of the road herself, her car is subject to the new rules and can’t enter during the hours of restriction.

She says she’s raised this with the council and has asked for help but has been told to book appointments outside of the Schools Streets hours of operation, which she says isn’t possible.

Glenda said: “Say, for example, she needs an X-ray, you need to get to the hospital early, so we want to leave here about 8 o’clock, but I’m not allowed to.

“But then if you go out, you can't come back until after half past nine, and it’s the same in the afternoon.

“I said to the girl on the phone [at Medway Council] so you're telling me if we finish our shopping and I get to the end of the road at five past three, we can't come along here? We've got to sit in the car and wait?

“With the appointments, she said ‘well, you can get them changed’ but you can't get appointments changed - you're lucky to get one.

“If you do, you've got to wait another six months, you know.”

Maureen added: “She said it's only an hour and a half or an evening, it's only an hour out of your morning.

“But we should be allowed to be able to come and go when we want - and I can’t call a taxi because they won’t come down here.”

Maureen and Glenda said they’d like to see exceptions apply for people who act as carers or who assist people living in school streets.

The School Streets scheme is in place on nine streets across seven school sites and aims to reduce congestion, reduce parking problems for residents, improve air quality, and create a safer environment for children and parents to travel to school.

It places temporary vehicle restrictions on the streets for the drop-off and pick-up times during term times, meaning the roads are for pedestrians and cyclists only.

Emergency service vehicles, school buses, utility providers attending emergencies, postal services and waste vehicles are automatically exempt, as well as residents who apply for an exemption for their vehicle.

Taxis are exempt if they are carrying a blue badge-holding customer, however this involves the taxi receiving the fine and having to contest it with the council.

The rules are enforced by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the end of the School Streets roads which recognise which cars have exemptions and which do not.

Medway Council’s portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement Cllr Alex Paterson (Lab), has now confirmed there would be more schools joining the programme, which he says has made streets safer for children and their parents.

He said: “I'm really pleased with the results so far, it's something which has delivered safer outcomes for children and parents walking to school.

“In any new scheme there is always a period of learning and there's always a period for residents and motorists to come to terms with the new rules, but I'm confident that there is an overall downward trajectory on that and that actually the message is getting through.”

Cllr Paterson also said the scheme could be adjusted for those with specific needs, such as carers helping vulnerable people, and encouraged those people to contact the council.

He added: “We've earmarked the second tranche of schools which are going to benefit from the school streets scheme and I am aware of other schools who have approached us asking if they can be involved too.

“I'm really excited that at this time of year, as children return after the school holidays, they're able to make that exciting journey in safety and that's what they're able to do where we have school streets.”

Cllr Paterson said the new schools which would join the School Streets Scheme would go to public consultation to fine-tune them for their specific circumstances before being fully introduced.