Schools call for new parking charges
Bid to avoid congestion and pollution
THREE schools have called for a revision of parking charges to a town’s main car park to avoid congestion and pollution in the streets surrounding their premises.
Cheadle Primary School, St Giles Catholic Primary School and Bishop Rawle CE Primary School have all submitted letters to Cheadle Town Council seeking support to alter the present car parking times on Tape Street car park from 9am to 3pm.
This would allow parents to use the car park as a drop off and pick up point leading to less congestion and pollution on the adjoining streets.
It would also mean that parents would not have to be charged one hour parking fee for just a few minutes.
Cheadle Primary headteacher Debbie Breeze, said: “If it was possible to slightly amend the charging times to accommodate families who desperately need to use the car park between 3pm and 3.30pm, then we believe that we would be able to increase the safety of our children on the roads in and around the vicinity and improve the congestion issues at rush hour.
“Currently there is a fee of 90p to park a vehicle between the hours of 3pm and 3.30pm, which is costly for many parents and one that means that families have to make an often unsafe choice.
“We are all incredibly concerned about pollution and unnecessary congestion near to schools and we very much feel that if this change could be considered our community would be a safer place for all.”
In another letter to councillors, school business manager at St Giles, Mrs K Hughes said: “We have had recurring problems with parents being forced to park on the double yellow no parking area at the end of school drive.
“I would therefore, ask for the consideration of revisiting the charging times on the main car park in Cheadle. At present the charging times are 9.30am to 3.30pm, however, most parents have already left by then. If the charging times could be altered to 9am to 3pm, this would allow parents time to park safely and walk the short distance to school, without incurring repeat daily fees for both drop off and collection.
“This would therefore, reduce the amount of traffic on Charles Street, making it much safer for all people in our local community. Many parents successfully use the car park for the morning drop off.”
Bishop Rawle school leader, Miss A Kirk, added: “Our parents and carers have previously been able to park their vehicles on the adjacent hospital car park, but since the pandemic, this is no longer possible.
“This means we are experiencing a significant amount of traffic along Royal Walk, in close proximity to our children and children from two neighbouring secondary schools.
“Most alarmingly, we have already experienced a child being struck by a car, fortunately the child was not seriously injured.
“As a school we have already implemented several safety measures, but feel these preventative measures do not necessarily provide a solution to the core problem – a lack of parking spaces near school.
“Therefore, I am writing to request, if you would consider revising the charging times on the main car park in Cheadle.”
Councillor Gary Bentley said: “If the main car park was used for drop off and pick up times for schools, it would cut traffic down on Charles Street which would lead to less pollution. We should write to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council as the issue could be a trial. The idea should also go to the car parking strategy committee.”
Councillor Philip Routledge said: “It would be very useful for the schools, if the times were by half an hour. It would also help the high street.”
Councillor Kate Martin said: “Schools in Leek and Biddulph have drop off points, Cheadle does not, this is causing congestion.”
Councillors agreed to write to the relevant organisations to look at revising the car parking times.