'Dangerous' school-run parents issued with warning amid rise in bad parking

A car parked outside a school
-Credit: (Image: John Allen)


Children are being put in danger by school-run parents who park on zig zag lines or block pavements, a council has warned. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) says there has been a "significant rise” in poor parking outside borough schools since pupils returned to classes at the end of August.

The council is urging parents and guardians to use designated drop off zones where available, and to park further away from schools, or use alternative methods of travel if possible. It launched its bid to crack down on irresponsible school parking after problems at two schools had to be addressed in a meeting called by council leader Councillor Stuart Bray.

The meeting put the current situation at Westfield Infant and Junior schools in Hinckley under the spotlight, and how careless parking is sometimes forcing children to cross the road in dangerous places. Jennifer Ruane, headteacher of Westfield Infants has called on school run parents to take care where they leave their cars to make sure “our children are safe when arriving at and leaving school”.

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She claimed any irresponsible parking could pose a safety risk. She said: “Parents and carers are reminded that leaving your car badly parked, even for a few minutes, can cause danger to pupils, other pedestrians, and road users."

Coun Bray also called on parents to change their ways. He said: "Every parent knows about those rushed mornings where you need to get the kids to school quickly, but leaving your car in the wrong place can cause more harm than good.”

He added that HBBC will be tackling the problem through “education and enforcement”. He said the council will be working with schools in the area, along with Leicestershire County Council, Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, who is also a county councillor and cabinet member for highways as well as a borough councillor, has welcomed HBBC's attempts to resolve the problem. He said the county council’s approach would “build on the work" already done outside the school.

Coun O'Shea said the parking issues were “commonplace” and “happen outside every school across the county”. He claimed work was ongoing to "improve safety" and "encourage sustainable travel” for school runs.

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