Steps being taken to crack down on irresponsible school parking 

The plea comes after a significant rise in poor parking outside schools in the borough since the current school year started.  

Leicestershire County Council, as the local highway authority, says it welcomes district council moves to convene a meeting to see what can be done to support the drive on irresponsible school parking.  

Concerns have been raised over parking on yellow zig-zag lines, school entrances being blocked, and pavements being obstructed. This could mean children have to cross the road in a dangerous place.  

Parents and guardians are being urged to avoid parking on yellow lines, pavements and restricted areas and to use designated drop-off zones if available instead.  

Alternatively, parents are being asked to park away from the school and walk the last few minutes with their child/ren or consider alternative ways to travel to school if possible.  

Councillor Stuart Bray, Leader of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, 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.  

I have convened a meeting to discuss the problems around Westfield Infant and Junior Schools, to consider measures that can be taken to ensure the safety of our community, but similar problems arise around most schools. This will involve the Borough Council working with Leicestershire County Council, Leicestershire Police, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, local schools and wider partners to address these issues through education and enforcement.

Mrs J Ruane Headteacher of Westfields Infants School said:

We ask parents to work with us so that our children are safe when arriving at and leaving school. 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.

Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said:

I welcome the borough council’s approach on this to build on the work which we have already done outside of the school to improve safety and encourage sustainable travel. 

The meeting provided further opportunity to emphasis various ways in which Westfield, through our support, can mitigate these commonplace issues which happen outside every school across the county.