What's being done to stop illegal school parking?

9:01am Monday 18th December 2006

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A Newport father hit the headlines last week when he launched a campaign to stop parents parking illegally outside his son's school. DARREN EVANS looks at what is being done across Gwent to address the problems.

SIMON Powell never planned to be a campaigner, but irresponsible parents parking illegally outside his son's school got him so angry he decided to take action.

Last week Mr Powell stickered the windscreens of cars parking on the yellow zig zag lines outside Clytha Primary School in Newport.

Although his actions saw him abused and threatened, he persisted, and returned to the school to photograph and film offenders.

"The road is filled with cars every morning and afternoon and sooner or later a child is going to get killed," said Mr Powell.

"For months I've been asking parents to move their cars and now I've decided to take it up a step."

Mr Powell is gathering evidence in the hope that Gwent Police will prosecute the offenders, and if they don't he will seek civil prosecutions himself.

Clytha Primary is by no means unique - the situation is the same at most schools across Gwent.

Despite initiatives like 'walking buses', where pupils walk to school together, and the Assembly's Safe Routes to Schools Scheme, which has seen more than £4 million spent in Gwent since 1999, the school run is still part of daily life for many parents.

Most parents are responsible when dropping their children off and picking them up, but some persist in ignoring regulations and putting the lives of other children in danger.

Paula Wadsworth, head of Pontnewydd Primary School in Cwmbran, said: "The number one issue at all PTA meetings is always parking.

"The roads coming to our school are all narrow and parents park on either side.

"We have put notices on cars to stop them, but a minority ignore them.

"If only they would park on a different road and walk their children in it would be resolved. The problem is that schools like ours were built before cars were so popular."

Some schools have taken tough measures to deal with parents who park irresponsibly.

At Libanus Primary School in Oakdale staff have erected a huge banner on the fence outside the school that reads: "If you care about your childrens' safety don't park here."

They also have pupils who act as traffic moniotrs, asking parents to move their cars and noting the registration numbers of offenders.

Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix, a governor of the school, said: "The problems generated outside the school are mainly generated by parents and guardians who drive their kids to school and park illegally. It makes the environment safe for people who are walking to school.

"But it has got better since the pupils have gone out. They have badges and clipboards and yellow jackets. It's youngsters themselves putting pressure on the parents to park responsibly around the school.

"Most of the parents have been excellent. But you get a hard core who will resist."

Caerphilly council are piloting a new scheme in six schools to help combat the increase in parents parking inconsiderately.

Green traffic cones are put along both sides of the road to stop drivers from parking so that the school crossing patrol officer has a clear view in both directions and children can cross safely.

Councillor Keith Griffiths, the cabinet member for education, said: "Consequently the journey to and from school has been made safer and more enjoyable for children. If the scheme continues to be successful then it will be introduced throughout the county."

Oakdale Infants are one of the schools piloting the green cones.

Deputy head Barbara Winmill said the parking problems at the school were getting worse.

"Our bus had to go into the school grounds because of parents parking in the bus bay.

"Wherever there was a space they would park.

We had traffic wardens and police up here but it didn't seem to make a difference."

The cones seem to be working so far, and the school secretary goes out to take the numbers of cars if anybody breaks the rules."

The green cone scheme was also implemented by Monmouthshire council at Cantref Primary school in Abergavenny in response to concerns about illegal parking.

A council spokeswoman said: "Although it is early days, we have received very positive feedback from both parents and staff at the school."

THE green cone scheme is endorsed by the National Assembly, and Simon Powell is calling for it to be introduced in schools across Newport.

He said: "The schools get to put out the cones at places where its dangerous to cross, and if anyone parks there they can be fined. It helps make the job of the crossing patrol people easier as well. Besides its a lot harder to drive over a cone than yellow lines."

A Newport council spokesman said the authority is "actively considering" an enforceable green cones scheme with Gwent Police.

The spokesman added: "Such a scheme requires the approval of the Assembly and officers are currently gathering evidence at a number of schools across the city including Clytha Primary.

"It is intended that this evidence will be presented to the Assembly in the New Year and subject to their approval, a number of pilot schemes can be introduced at problem areas in the city to assess their effectiveness."

Blaenau Gwent council is also looking at ways of making the journey to school safer.

A spokeswoman said they are looking to implement 'walking bus' schemes as well as establishing a green cone scheme.

She added: "Encouraging children and parents to walk to school and leave their cars at home remains a priority both in terms of the obvious health benefits and reduction in the use of vehicles."

Torfaen council is not currently considering a green cone scheme, but education cabinet member councillor John Turner said: "The council is working closely with schools to produce School Travel Plans and to establish safe routes to schools. In addition whenever there are any new developments, transport issues are taken into consideration and planned for accordingly."

MR Powell's campaign attracted dozens of responses from parents across Gwent, who posted their comments on our website. Here are a selection of their views.

Jon said: "Good on you for trying! The police or traffic wardens need to go around all schools and hand out on the spot fines and three points to people who park on the yellow zig zags as they have been put there for thier childrens safely, People who park on the zig zags would be the first to complain if thier child got knocked down by another car who couldn't see past the zig zag offenders. It's a problem at all schools, Maybe the school caretaker could be given rights to issue the on the spot fines and put the money to good use within the schools. Something needs to be done to protect the children."

Steve said: "Totally agree with the affirmative action that Mr Powell is taking. As I'm about to become a father this situation is one that concerns me. I live very close to a primary school in Crosskeys, and have seen the rather selfish approach to parking from parents there."

Dood said: "Same problem in the Gaer school... you have to walk in the road and have the danger of getting knocked over forced onto our children."

L said: "Up at St Julians infants and juniors we have really bad parking problems. Most people are within walking distance of the schools but are too lazy to walk."

Gill Shutt said: "Same here in Pontnewydd. When the police or traffic warden turns up they don't do it, as soon as they go the bad parkers come out of the woodwork. Lazy and selfish."

Another wrote: "A petition needs to be raised and made available to the public e.g. via our new waterfront or in the high street. Newport Council and Police will see how much of a concern this is. More rights should be given to schools and or police officers to enforce the rules. Keep our children safe!"