Traffic ban to stop chaos on the school run
STREETS WOULD BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES AND OFFENDERS FINED
TEMPORARY road bans are set to be introduced near Derby schools to resolve school-run parking problems.
Derby City Council bosses are planning to stop drivers using Alvaston Street, close to St John Fisher Primary School, during school-run times.
It is understood other road bans could be in place in other areas of Derby, too, as the city council looks to clamp down on school parking problems.
The Alvaston Street order means motorists will not be allowed on a certain part between 8.15am and 9am and between 2.30pm and 3.30pm Monday to Friday.
A city council email stated: “During site visits, vehicles were observed on Alvaston Street mounting pavements, reversing onto the footway and double parking close to the school. Over the years, there have been reports of pupils/parents being hit by manoeuvring cars and residents have complained about difficulties with access for some time.”
TEMPORARY road bans are set to be introduced around Derby schools to resolve school-run parking problems and to keep children safe.
Documentation showing Derby City Council bosses are planning to stop drivers using Alvaston Street, close to St John Fisher Primary School, during school-run times has been seen by the Derby Telegraph.
It is understood other road bans could be in place in other areas of Derby, too, as the city council looks to clamp down on school parking problems.
Alvaston Street is one of the roads being addressed, having seen traffic chaos during the school run with cars mounting pavements, motorists carrying out dangerous reverse manoeuvres and parents and pupils being hit by vehicles.
The Alvaston Street order means that motorists will not be allowed to drive on a certain part between 8.15am and 9am and between 2.30pm and 3.30pm Monday to Friday, as children arrive and leave school.
The city council says the area of the street that motorists will not be allowed to use during these times is between its junctions with Old Hall Avenue and Grimshaw Avenue.
The road restrictions will be “experimental” at first and could be enforced as soon as late September for around 18 months. Public consultation will take place during this time.
It is also understood that any motorist using the restricted part of the road during the times stated could receive a formal warning or possibly a fine, however this is yet to be confirmed.
The plans come as part of Derby City Council’s School Safe Haven Zone project which is exploring ways to resolve school parking issues and making areas of Derby safer at school run times. School parking has been a long-running issue in many areas of Derby, particularly Alvaston and Chaddesden.
The city council says implementing road restrictions will hopefully help problems which have, worryingly, seen parents and pupils struck by moving vehicles.
An email it sent out stated: “During site visits, vehicles were observed on Alvaston Street mounting pavements, reversing onto the footway and double parking close to the school.
“Over the years, there have been reports of pupils/parents being hit by manoeuvring cars and residents have complained about difficulties with access for some time. The level of on-street parking and vehicle manoeuvres on Alvaston Street created by the school run results in visibility issues for pedestrians, especially unaccompanied pupils.
“The volume of traffic in conjunction with the limited access to space results in erratic and inconsiderate parking that compromises pedestrian safety and access for residents.”
Councillors in Chaddesden have been seen in recent years running their own patrols to address school parking concerns in the ward.
One parent got so irate after being seen parked outside a school, she shouted at a news reporter covering the patrol exercise who had taken a photo of her car.
Alvaston councillor Alan Graves said he was pleased something was being done to solve school parking problems in the ward.
He said: “I have been calling for temporary road blocking for many years and the council can now do this. I know it has been introduced in other councils, successfully. I am hoping that the positives will far outweigh the negatives whilst making a huge difference to child safety.”
A public consultation on school parking safety is still ongoing. You can take part by clicking here https://www.derby.gov.uk/counciland-democracy/consultations/latest-consultations/ and pressing the School Safe Haven Zone tab.
Over the years, there have been reports of pupils/parents being hit by manoeuvring cars.
City council