A CONCERNED parent fears a child could be run over due to what he describes as a ‘woeful lack of safety and parking measures’ around a school in Houlton.
Jeremy Nicholls, who has two children at St Gabriel’s School, says urgent action is required to improve safety outside the school, which opened in 2018.
He says existing measures – a section of yellow zig zag lines and a warning sign – are not enough, and that a raised table area and dropped kerbs at the t-junction adjacent to the school create ‘a sense that this is a safe space for pedestrians to cross, but also drivers see it as a nice convenient place to park’.
He added: “Obstructed view is my main concern, which could clearly result in a child being knocked over. I once witnessed someone reverse from the raised table and nearly knock someone over who was crossing at the dropped kerb crossing point.
“The added congestion results in frustration around the junction which encourages people to drive in an irresponsible way. The two things together are a bad mix.”
He has called on Warwickshire County Council (WCC) to introduce more double yellow and zig-zag lines, more warning signs, and bollards or fencing.
He said: “It is frustrating that the initial design was such a light touch
“The school does what it can in terms of asking people to park in a responsible way – but without permanent solutions in place, people will do what they want.”
A WCC spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, the School Keep Clear Zone at the school is not currently enforceable under Civil Parking Enforcement.
“However, St Gabriel’s School will be included in the upcoming School Keep Clear project. This will involve the relining and signing of the School Keep Clear Zone, supporting the school to enable enforcement.
“Enforcement will be achieved via a mobile ANPR vehicle which will issue Regulation 10 Penalty Charge Notices. This is a complex county-wide project which will take time to implement.”
