Sheringham Primary School pupils lie in the road to model for a poster campaign against illegal parking at the school.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY
Sheringham parents slammed for ‘ridiculous’ driving
By STEVE DOWNES
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
10:35 AM
Parents driving in a “ridiculous” manner have been slammed once more after councillors rejected a suggested solution to traffic danger outside a Sheringham school.
The town council said “thanks, but no thanks” to a Norfolk County Council idea to plant nine trees to stop impatient mums and dads driving along the pavement to make a quick getaway after collecting children from Sheringham Primary School.
The decision came after members heard they faced a bill of £585 plus VAT for each tree.
Sheringham Primary is the largest primary school in Norfolk, with more than 700 pupils, and there have long been concerns about danger to the youngsters at dropping off and picking up times.
Last year, some of the students lay in the road for photographs for a hard-hitting banner to urge parents to stop parking on the yellow zig-zag lines.
At a recent council meeting, town mayor Doug Smith told of another problem, saying: “Parents collecting children park on the wide grass verge which abuts Cooper Road. The police are happy with motorists doing this.
“But in the lines of cars building up, parents get boxed in because other parents are sometimes held up. To get out, they drive along the pavement, creating a very serious safety hazard.”
He added: “An idea has come about that planting nine trees would prevent this from happening. They would stop cars from travelling along the pavement.”
After hearing about the potential cost, and uncertainty about whether it would work, councillors voted to reject the offer.
Richard Hewitt said: “Most of it is slightly foolish driving. I’m not sure whether jamming the whole thing up even more is a solution.
“It’s a rush hour problem, so it should be dealt with by managing the rush hour, not by making it even more difficult.”
Peter Cox said: “It’s the ridiculous and silly driving by adults that needs to be addressed.”
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8 comments
It's complete chaos twice a day, parents blocking driveways, blocking pavements and generally rude and inconsiderate driving. It's only a matter of time before a tragedy is going to happen.......and when it does, the emergency services won't stand a chance of getting through. Something needs to be done.
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jeffy
Thursday, February 14, 2013
I live in on of the areas these idiots drive....the parking is dangerous at best.there is no way a fire engine could get past..try using your legs and walking to collect your kids..might do you some good as well.
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Dre33dd
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
hear hear tpw i agree whole heartedly with your suggestion it would also make the young ones to apprieciate thier hard work and not vandalise the trees once planted as happened around here.
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stephen watson
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
why should they have to grow trees because of some rude inconsider parents the police should be give their number plates and they should be dealt with.
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kaz
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
£585+VAT per tree! Ridiculous! Why not invite the pupils in Years 56 to make a project of the tree planting? Find a friendly contractor, plan the work, choose the trees, cost the job and get a reasonable profit for the school by getting the work done for a fraction of the cost. Good learning experience for the kids. Ticks all the boxes. Everyone wins.
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TPW
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
585 pounds plus vat per tree????
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pools
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
They do it over a piece of raised cobble inset pavement edge near a branch of Co op and Lidl. Risky driving at school in out hours with hundreds of kids passing by-yet never a PCSO to be seen when I drive past. Their main concern from posters in post offices in nearby villages seems to be harassing kids on playing field areas.
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Daisy Roots
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
How about a police presence. Any offenders get issued with a Section 59 (car asbo). Get 2 section 59s in 1 or 2 years, the car is seized and crushed. Or are Section 59s only issued to youngsters???
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Lord Elf
Tuesday, February 12, 2013