School parking chaos sparks call for action

MOTORISTS park on the pavement and ignore zig-zag and school markings in Hunt Lane

'Residents have received the most dreadful abuse’
FED-UP residents are demanding action to tackle parking problems on the busy road outside Radclyffe School.

They say that parents dropping off and picking up their children park on the pavement and block their driveways.

And they have been abused when they have asked drivers to move.

Now local councillor Eileen Hulme, a governor at the Chadderton school, has arranged a meeting at the Hunt Lane Tavern at 7pm tonight to discuss the problems.

A highways officer and a police representative will attend along with local councillor and school governor Colin McLaren

Councillor Hulme explained: “We have got a lot of problems on Hunt Lane. Basically people are coming to pick up their children, parking on the footpaths, blocking people’s drives and even parking in people’s driveways and refusing to move.

“If people go and ask them politely to move they get the most awful, dreadful abuse. It is not just the odd swear word, it is horrendous.

“Some of the residents have seen children being bumped by the traffic, but no injuries. One day it is not going to be just a bump.”

One resident, who did not want to be named added: “On a daily basis, vehicles dropping off or collecting pupils are parked in such a manner that they block access to and from our home so that we cannot go about our daily business without hindrance.

“The school, as well as the local authority and police, have been notified of these problems by a number of local residents. Little has been done to find a solution.”

Head teacher Hardial Hayer wrote to parents in the last school news letter raising the concerns and asking them to park legally and considerately.

He sympathises with the residents and said: “We are obviously concerned about the parking situation in Hunt Lane.

“In any school there are always issues about parking around the school. There is only a limited impact a school can have because we do not have any control over the roads.”

Mr Hayer said that parents could use the school car park. They have to arrive five minutes before the end of the school day when the gates are locked, and cannot leave for 20 minutes.

This is to ensure pupils’ safety and Mr Hayer added: “When you have 1,450 children you are responsible for their safety.

“That’s why, before the school opened, we did a risk assessment and felt it was important to close the gates.”