Park in exclusion zone and you will be fined
Thoughtless drivers who continue to ignore a parking exclusion zone at a Paisley school will be fined £100, police have warned.
Officers attended Lochfield Primary School amid reports parents are simply ignoring new restrictions designed to keep pupils safe.
The Safer Schools pilot scheme, which was introduced after the Easter break, bans parking on Quarry Road from 8.30am to 9.15am and 2.30pm and 3.15pm.
But police were forced to step in when motorists continued to park on the street.
The nine- month pilot is also running at St Catherine’s, and St Charles’ primaries as well as Barsail Primary in Erskine, where similar restrictions are in place.
Inspector Laura Hammill, from Renfrewshire’s community policing team said the safety of pupils at the school is the top priority.
She told the Paisley Daily Express: “The parking exclusion zone introduced around a number of schools in the Paisley area are designed to keep pupils safe, reduce congestion and encourage families to be more active.
“Unfortunately we have had reports of a number of people choosing to ignore the exclusion zone around Lochfield Primary school by parking on Quarry Road.
“Officers attended the school to remind drivers of the rules and inform them on why they have been implemented.
“We area ware that the pilot is at an early stage so our key objective is to educate people about the zones and help change behaviour.
“Along with Safer Schools partner Renfrewshire Council, we will continue to monitor the exclusion zones and if it should become necessary take enforcement action.”
She added: “Our top priority is the safety of pupils as they are dropped off and picked up from school.”
If anyone is spotted flouting the rules, they could be hit with a fixed penalty notice.
Teachers are expected to follow the rules alongside parents, but the council has supplied each school with a number of emergency passes which can be given to staff who need to park close by.
Officers have said if the trial is deemed successful, it could be rolled out to other schools in the future.
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman said: “Our Safer
Schools pilot aims to solve congestion issues, reduce emissions and ensure the safety of children around our school entrances.
“We’ve been in close contact with parents and carers at the schools to ensure they’re aware of the pilot and the reasons behind it, and we continue to ask them to follow the rules for the benefit of our pupils and walk the final part of their journey to school.
“Our colleagues in the police, assisted by our Wardens Service where necessary, are there to educate drivers and ensure they do not use the restricted streets during the school run, and the police can issue fixed penalty notices to repeat offenders.”