Fielding Primary Parents Safety Campaign Pays Off
As Ealing Council launches a crackdown on illegally parked motorists
Ealing Council has listened to the demands of Fielding Primary School parents, with the launch of a campaign to warn motorists of the dangers of stopping illegally outside school gates.
The crackdown follows calls from head teachers for action to be taken against a small minority of irresponsible parents who drive to school and stop illegally.
Starting this week, parking wardens will be visiting schools across the borough to remind parents stopped on zig-zag lines that they’re putting children’s lives at risk and could also face a fine.
Posters and warning signs will go up at all schools and officers from Parking Services will be tapping on the windows of anyone breaking the law to tell them of the dangers.
An enforcement campaign will launch later this month, but only after officers have visited the school to warn motorists that if they flout the law they will face a fixed penalty notice. Enforcement at each school will only be undertaken with the support of the head teacher.
Councillor Vlod Barchuk, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This campaign is really important because it’s about keeping children safe around the school gate and it’s part of our drive to make Ealing safer. It’s just dangerous to stop, even briefly, on zig-zag lines because children can’t see on-coming traffic. Stopping on zig-zag lines is considered so serious that motorists can have their licences endorsed for the offence.”
Fielding headteacher Annette Reeves is firmly behind the parents’ said: “The safety and well-being of the hundreds of children who come into the school every day has to be of paramount importance,” she said. “We all owe it to them to make sure that their journey to and from school is as safe as possible.”
January 18, 2008
