Class act on road safety
Children have written to the Advertiser, asking for help to stop parents parking on zig-zag lines.
The children, aged eight to ten, say drivers put them at risk because they cannot see when it is safe to cross the road.
They also want parents to think about walking to school to be more environmentally friendly and become healthier.
The children also sent letters to the police, the road safety department of Newark and Sherwood district council, the secretary of state for transport in London and the Brake charity.
Only the Advertiser and the police have responded to the letters so far.
There have been a couple of near misses at the school in the last couple of years because people cannot see around cars to cross the road safely.
As part of their literacy lessons, 120 children have been learning to write persuasive letters.
One class sent letters to Newark and Sherwood District Council about why land on the Hawtonville estate should not have houses built on it.
Another wrote about parking outside the school because it was raised at the school council.
Beatie Price (9) thought that if the zig-zags were painted with glitter, then people would notice them and not park there.
She said she had told her parents how dangerous it was to park outside the school and that they agreed with her.
Connor Kelsall (9) was concerned that parents had not taken notice of the letters.
Lucy Andrews (10) said: “People go speeding down that road. You might get someone with a double pushchair crossing the road and put three people’s lives in danger.”
Adam Mable (8) said that it might be hard to punish people that park on the yellow lines.
He said: “It might be hard work getting them because they might be a bad person and get away from school quickly.”
Chloe Alker (8) said she had also seen delivery drivers park on the lines.
Mrs Rachel Bray, the literacy teacher, said the children came up with the reasoning behind why people should stop parking outside Bowbridge after a discussion in class.
She said: “We like them to take an active role rather than sitting back.
“They are really passionate about it and are excited to be making a difference. It’s important that it comes from them.”
The head, Mr David Dixon, said: “We do try and show the children that they can do something to make a difference.”
A new school is being built behind the current building. Mr Dixon said that in the original plans, the new school was to have a drop off and pick up point for cars but that was scrapped when the school realised what a problem parking was causing.
He hopes all the parents will walk to school by the time the children have moved into the new building.
Pupils who wrote letters to the Advertiser include Chloe Reece (8) Chandler Cull (10) Elliott Craig Jones (10) and Ryan Fisher (10).
Chloe Reece wrote: “How would you feel if your child couldn’t cross the road and got killed? How would you feel if your child couldn’t cross the road outside their school because cars are in the way?”
Mr Keith Girling, the county councillor for the area, was impressed that the children took an interest.
“It’s fantastic that they have written these letters, it just shows that they are concerned about their own safety. I just hope their parents do not take them to school in a car and park on the lines,” he said.
On Monday, many people were still parking on the lines, despite the children’s appeals.
Pc Lisa Mortimer, the beat manager for the area, told those who were in their vehicles to move them.
She noted the registration numbers of vehicles that had been left on the lines, and she will write to the owners.
She said: “It is ironic that the children have sent these letters, but it’s the parents picking them up who need to respond. It’s their own children that they are putting in danger.”
A school survey showed that since September, 10% fewer pupils were getting to school by car and that 65% walked, a five point increase.
Mr and Mrs Gavin Tyler of Bailey Road, Newark, have two children at the school.
They live close to the school and say that parking on the lines is a problem and their drive is regularly blocked when parents pick up their children.
Mrs Kelly Tivey (27) of Philip Road has a five-year-old daughter at the school and walks every day.
She said it could be dangerous for the children but that her daughter knew not to run out in the road.
PC Lisa Mortimer points out to motorists the parking danger. 140108MCW2-5
Pupils at Bowbridge Primary School wrote to the Advertiser about the public parking on the zig zag lines outside their school on Bailey Road, Newark.
