Crackdown planned at two schools to prevent illegal parking by parents
Enforcement officers could be deployed to prevent parents parking illegally outside two schools.
The measures are among recommendations made by the county council to end years of chaos outside Manor High and Brookside Primary schools, in Copse Close, Oadby.
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Manor High School, in Oadby
A petition containing 1,004 signatures was handed to the Oadby and Wigston Highways Forum in January, asking for more to be done to reduce traffic in the area and to help prevent accidents from occurring.
A report containing council recommendations has now been produced, with its findings to be discussed at Leicestershire County Council's Highways Forum for Oadby and Wigston, on Thursday.
As well as providing enforcement officers to ensure parents do not park on double yellow lines, in front of driveways or on Keep Clear zig-zag lines, the report suggests, if money is available, improvements should be made to crossings in Copse Close and Severn Road.
It also recommends installing a further 40 covered cycle parking spaces to encourage more children to ride to school.
The council will also consider encouraging parents and pupils to walk or cycle rather than take the car.
Graham Wilson, chair of governors at Manor High, organised the petition and welcomed some aspects of the report, but called for more to be done.
He said: "I left that school in 1993 and it was a problem then. There have been a few accidents outside the two schools. In fact, on the day we handed in the petition, a girl broke her ankle after being knocked over by a car.
"There are just too many cars on that small road. Often parents get road rage and have even got out of their cars to confront each other.
"They even drive up on to the pavements to get along the road, which is very dangerous for the children.
"I'd be happy with enforcement officers to deal with illegal parkers but I also think some of the things we requested like safety railings and bollards would be a good idea."
Ashraf Ahmed, 45, of Oadby, has two sons at Manor High, where he is a governor, and was one of hundreds of parents to sign the petition.
He said: "It's very dangerous. People park as close as they can to the school even if it means blocking parts of the road. I've never witnessed an accident but we've heard about them happening.
"Parking enforcement is a good idea but I think parents need to be encouraged to park away from the school and walk for a couple of minutes."
Earlier this year head teachers at both schools spoke to the Mercury about their concerns.
Brookside's Lynn Bruce said: "Some of the parents are inordinately inconsiderate and it's not the head teacher's job to monitor parents and get abuse from them when we approach them."
Sheila Major, from Manor High, said: "In an ideal world I would like more to walk to school or use public transport.
"We just want to find a solution which stops all this congestion."
6 Comments
by Robert, Notts
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 3:14PM
“Stop the messing about, this has gone on for far too long.
Have a blitz, issue tickets immediately (no excuses accepted). Go back and blitz again at random.
None of this should be necessary but, hopefully, the fines levied will cover the cost of enforcement - more importantly a life may be saved.
Alternatively, highlight the offenders registration numbers on a board by the school gate.
Robert”
by Mr A, leics
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 2:40PM
“Graham Stocks - whilst I applaud your comments and your stance (And CPRE actually
I doubt anything will be done about these idiots; nothing ever is.
A sad indictment on British society.
( If they get a fixed penalty- it will doubtless raise human rights issues)
The country is run by Euromorons.”
by David, Great Easton, Rural Leicestershire.
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 12:50PM
“As far as I can see there is no "planning" to be done. People are breaking the law and as such should feel the full weight of the action taken by Enforcement Officers.
This idiotic madness has grown out of all proportion during the last decade or so and needs urgent action to be taken without delay.
Why do drivers think they can park exactly where they like without any thought of other road users, pedestrians and, of course, the law?!!”
by CGLee, near melton
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 12:46PM
“I am not familiar with this location or its problems but this is a perrenial problem at most schools. Parents are just lazy, their children are, as a consequence, getting fat and the roads, also as a cosequence are becoming more dangerous.
By whatever means, ensure that all transgressors are dealt with according to the law. This is not the head teachers' responsibillity but that of the parking wardens, and if they cannot cope, the police.”
by steve, Leicester
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 11:18AM
“Put up a video camera recording activity outside schools 1 hour before school and 1 hour after school. Go through video at end of each day, send a ticket to everyone who breaks the law. Soon get problem cleared up. People are too lazy to think about others and nothing will change unless action is taken.”
by GRAHAM STOCKS - VICE-CHAIRMAN, LEICESTERSHIRE CPRE, LE12 8XT
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 10:51AM
“I doubt if there's a school or college in the county where drivers dropping-off or picking-up students wouldn't drive into the very classrooms if they could! Parking within ten metres of a junction or on the zig-zag lines outside schools endangers those we wish to protect most. Until local planning authorities actually make out relevant Traffic Regulation Orders, there's not a great deal anyone can do except maybe appeal to the better side of transgressors or educate them properly if they don't realise what they are doing.
Having passed their driving tests the offenders should know how to park safely and sensibly. When police do arrive to warn these wayward drivers everything is fine and dandy for that day, only to return to the chaos the next day when the police aren't there. Traffic Regulation Orders forbidding parking on zig-zags with appropriate fines seems to be the only lasting solution to this problem.”