Clampingdownon poor school parking
Police could step up enforcement
A CAMPAIGNING councillor is acting on the concerns of residents complaining about an escalation of parking problems near a village school.
The intervention by Burbage ward representative Amanda Wright has resulted in police promising stricter enforcement and new measures planned by the county council.
Cllr Wright (Con, Burbage Sketchley and Stretton) was approached last year by people near Sketchley Hill School.
She said: “Although the vast majority of parents to the school are responsible and considerate in how they park, a small minority are not.
“Residents were complaining to me of cars parked across their drives, blatant disregard for the school zone/traffic markings and zig zags in some instances, parking on corners and generally just dangerous parking.
“Many residents, especially on Azalea Drive and Azalea Close, have been particularly affected with one resident being unable to exit their driveway to attend hospital urgently in one instance.
“Obviously acceptable.”
She said parents were under-estimating the amount of time it takes to pick up their children, meaning obstruction of drives, the footpath and potentially dangerous narrowing of the road is lasting longer than just a few minutes.
Azalea Drive is a bus route but the problem parking means drivers struggle to navigate the road with cars parked on either side of the street.
Discussions have been held with Leicestershire County Council, the school and AECOM, a company engaged by the county to work with schools to promote sustainable and safe travel.
This resulted in a site visit by county senior engineer Stuart Bullen at the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. He, along with Cllr Wright, also met and spoke with some of the concerned residents.
Cllr Wright said: “It is now my understanding this is not that a proposal will be put forward to help with the traffic situation and this should be forthcoming in the next few weeks.
“Local PCSO Andy Harris is also involved in policing the area and is aware of the ongoing issues.
“Police are also discussing more robust enforcement in the area.
“I do want to say the school is doing a whole host of things to try and alleviate the parking issues.
“Walking to school weeks and road safety actions are planned and the school gives a great deal of promotion already to try and address these problems.
“Most newsletters from the school highlight the importance of considerate parking both for local residents and from a child safety perspective.”