Pupils face parking peril

Dangerous parking outside a primary school is putting pupils’ lives at risk, it has been claimed.

There are fears that a serious accident involving a child is inevitable outside John Hunt Primary School, Balderton.

A petition has been launched calling for something to be done about people parking irresponsibly on London Road.

It has been prompted by another near miss on Friday morning, when Mrs Jane Entwisle’s son Samuel, 6, was almost knocked over by a car reversing into the Ka Ho restaurant site next to the school.

Mrs Entwisle, 32, of London Road, Balderton, screamed as the car headed towards her son.

She said the incident highlighted thoughtless parking outside the school.

“The pavement and cycle path are very busy at the start and end of the school day and I believe people are taking risks by parking dangerously,” she said.

Mrs Entwisle fears that a child could be killed outside the school. She is calling on parents, local businesses and others to attend a public meeting a week today to discuss the issue.

“It’s not simply about setting consequences in place for dangerous parking, it is also about finding a solution for those who need to drive to school,” she said.

The safer neighbourhood group meeting is at 6.30pm at Balderton Village Centre.

Mrs Entwisle said there were problems outside other schools but, because London Road was so busy and regularly used by heavy vehicles, the issue there was worse.

Parking on the zig zag lines and at the bus stop outside the school causes chaos.

Buses have to stop in the middle of the road and vehicles weave between parked cars and the pedestrian islands either side of the school entrance.

The district councillor for the area, Mrs Betty Brooks, said: “It’s just an accident waiting to happen. They’re so inconsiderate. It’s horrendous.

“The children are taught road safety at school but what’s the point when the parents abuse it?”

Mrs Brooks said an ambulance and a fire engine would not be able to get up the road at the same time because of the parked cars.

The school’s head, Mrs June Braddow, said it was inevitable that one day there would be a serious accident.

“The near miss on Friday is one of many that have happened in the past. One day those near misses will not be a near miss,” she said.

“The reality is there isn’t anywhere to park.”

She sympathised with parents who came from a distance but said people did not understand the potential dangers of parking outside the school.

Mrs Braddow said the police could do more to discourage poor parking and suggested nearby businesses could offer parking spaces for parents.

Pc Martin Stannard, the beat manager for the area, said: “I would ask parents to think about where they are parking and ensure they are neither causing an obstruction or impeding the view of others trying to cross the road.

“If everyone agrees to park away from the school and walk the short distance to collect children, it would make it safer and easier.”

While the Advertiser was at John Hunt school on Monday afternoon, the county councillor for Balderton, Mr Keith Walker, parked on the zig zag lines outside.

Mr Walker, the vice-chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council and a former chairman of Balderton Safer Neighbourhood Group, arrived after parents had picked up their children from the school.

When the Advertiser asked Mr Walker why he had parked on the zig zag lines, he said: “For the simple reason I was in a hurry and I had got to be at another meeting. I was there for about two minutes.”

Mr Walker said he was picking up his wife, Mrs Inga Walker, who works as a volunteer at the school. He said it was not illegal to park there.