A Forfar primary school has told parents that parking illegally when dropping off or collecting their children has to stop before there is a serious accident.
The long-running parking problem outside Whitehills Primary School is continuing despite leaflets being distributed to parents, a school assembly on the topic and a school-wide competition to create a new banner promoting safe parking.
Last week buses for a school trip couldn’t get into the school car park due to the parking problem which is of such concern that a pupil led safety group has been focusing on the issue.
Parents have been spotted parking on double yellows, zig zags, in disabled spaces without a blue badge and on the corner of the one way system that prevents larger vehicles getting past.
There is also anxiety among the staff about how an emergency services vehicle would get to the school.
There have also been several “near misses” in the car park as pupils struggle to walk in the grounds safely.
Principle teacher James Webb said: “It’s really come to a head in the last two to three months.
“On a number of occasions buses have been unable to get into the school car park to pick up and deliver children safely due to inconsiderate parking outwith the parking bays.
“It is also a worry should any emergency vehicles require access to school as they would not be able to get round the car park.”
A leaflet produced by the Junior Road Safety Officers, which is made up of primary six pupils, states: “The parking in and around the school has become dangerous and some drivers are being inconsiderate. This has to stop before there is a serious accident.”
The school is asking parents to park further from the school if there aren’t any spaces.
The assembly and poster competition were held in the hope that pupils would discuss the parking with parents.
The winning poster by primary three pupil Leah Smart has been made into a large banner displayed in the school grounds.
Teaching assistant Sheila Ironside, who coordinates the Junior Road Safety Officers, described the parking situation before and after school as “chaotic” and said there had been several “near misses”.
She said: “People just park where they see a space. It doesn’t matter if there are double yellow lines or a zigzag.
“We did a leaflet a couple of months ago and then we had the competition to do the banner.
“It’s still making no difference. We don’t know what the answer is.
“The other day the buses couldn’t get in for the school trip because they couldn’t get down and it would be a big problem if an emergency services vehicle needed to come to the school.
“We do worry that because the cars are parked everywhere it is harder for the pupils to stay safe as well. There have been a lot of near misses.”
The issue of illegal parking at school was raised at a recent Angus Council meeting with an assurance given that traffic wardens would be focusing on the issue.
