Plea for drop-off zone amid kids safety fears

THE city council has been urged to create a safe dropoff zone for children at a Dundee school amid fears live are being put at risk.

The plea was made after parents were spotted parking in taxi ranks and bus lanes outside Harris Academy.

The multi-million pound school opened earlier in June.

But now fears have been raised about parking issues, including claims of cars blocking driveways and people parking in taxi ranks.

Scott McReady, 43, lives i n Claypotts but drives to the school every day.

He said: “I’ve spoken to a few people there and they’re not happy. Drivers are blocking their driveways.

“Parents are stopping at the bottom of West Park Road. Their car doors fly open and bairns jump out in front of parked cars.

“They think traffic has stopped but cars try and go around them.

“In the first week of term police and traffic wardens were there, and the head teacher was also there with a walkie talkie.

“There was zero tolerance — they were approaching cars and telling them they couldn’t park there. But there’s nobody there now. If the parents knew what was going on they would be horrified.”

The Tele approached a number of drivers waiting outside Harris Academy yesterday.

One driver was waiting in the bus bay at the west of the school site.

The motorist, who declined to be named, said: “I wait as close to the school most days to pick up my child. I’m aware I’m parked where I shouldn’t but it’s only for a couple of minutes a day.”

Another driver parked in the taxi rank right outside the school.

The driver said: “This is the first time I’ve been here to pick someone up. I wasn’t aware of the rules.”

Mr McReady suggested that the council should provide a safe place for kids to be dropped off.

He added: “Sometimes a few cars come and sit in with the taxis. The drivers say ‘I’ll only be a minute’ but they are told they have to move on.”

Councillor Stewart Hunter, convener of the children and family services committee, said: “As with all schools in the city, Harris does have a minority of parents who park irresponsibly.

“Harris was specifically discussed at the most recent school parking group and in the main there were no serious issues raised.

“However, the solution is for the minority of parents — whether at Harris or at other schools — who are irresponsible to show some common sense and park away from the school and let their children walk the last stretch.”

Fears have been raised about parking issues, including claims of cars blocking driveways and parking in taxi ranks.