By Parents fight back after near-miss
A group of concerned parents are fighting back to ensure the safety of their children after several incidents, including a near-miss, outside local schools.
Inconsiderate and dangerous parking is increasingly causing problems outside local schools, putting the safety of children at risk. Cars parking inconsiderately or on zigzag lines cause visibility issues for pedestrians of all ages who are crossing the road network to get to and from school.
Our recent report that a child had been involved in a near-miss outside of Signhills Academy received an overwhelming response. We have since heard concerns regarding almost every school in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, and so met with a group of parents to discuss the matter. They said:
“I have seen people driving and parking on the path. They also stop in the middle of the road waiting for their children and cause massive queues. If you don’t arrive at least 10-15 minutes before the school day ends, then there is simply nowhere to park. It’s very easy to say that people should walk, however some have legitimate reasons such as disabilities or distance. People need to take responsibility as individuals.”
“There are cars parked on the zig zags, and when the council send the enforcement officer, he does very little. Parents are prioritizing their desire to park closer to the school over the safety of children.”
The parent of a child at Laceby Acres Academy highlighted a shortage of lollipop people as one of the key issues with dangerous driving outside schools. He suggested that schools and councils develop an incentivized ‘park and stride’ scheme.
Other councils such as Lancashire County Council have now made it possible for parking enforcement officers to issue road users with penalty tickets even if they have already driven away. This is intended to provide a stronger deterrent.
North East Lincolnshire Council have been heavily criticized for their inaction on the matter. One frustrated parent felt that the accountability should lie with those in charge of policing the roads, he said:
“Perhaps Safer Roads Humber and North East Lincolnshire Council should redirect their efforts from improper parking on relatively safe roads to persecuting those who are driving and parking dangerously outside of schools…”
When we asked North East Lincolnshire Council what efforts they were taking to tackle the issue, a spokesperson stated:
“We are currently exploring various enforcement options at school sites to further deter parents from parking illegally and reduce the risk of any accidents.
The Road Safety Team regularly attend schools across North East Lincolnshire providing road safety messages to both parents and children ensuring that school children can enter and leave school safely.”
At a meeting attended by the parents of children at Signhills Academy, prospective Councillor Matt Stinson and Councillor Keith Brookes, Rachel Newbould, the mother of the child involved in the recent near-miss outside Signhills Academy responded:
“The council release the same inadequate statement every time this issue is raised by a parent, but unfortunately they do very little to resolve the issue. On the rare occasions that enforcement officers are sent, offenders are simply moved on. The Road Safety Team are laughed at by parents; I have witnessed cars simply driving around the block, and then parking up in the exact same spot. Enforcement officers need to start issuing fines, and the council need to take control. However, I am glad to see that they are present today.”
One mother mentioned that she hears more accounts of near-misses every day and has been reporting them to the council for years but to little avail. Many feel that unless parents, schools and the council are united on a resolution, then a serious injury is likely to occur before action is taken.
Parents have begun to petition North East Lincolnshire Council to enforce parking restrictions around Signhills Academy.
Signhills Academy were contacted for a statement, but we have not received a response.
What are your thoughts – whose responsibility is it to control parking outside of schools? What should be done to resolve the issue?
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