New efforts are being made to solve a parking nightmare at a Huddersfield school.
A worried parent has enlisted the help of MP Barry Sheerman in tackling safety issues around Fixby Junior and Infants.
Lucy Smith appealed for the MP’s support after her son was hit by a car on his way to the Lightridge Road school.
“It is becoming more urgent,” said Ms Smith.
After seeing the situation for himself, Mr Sheerman says he will talk to Kirklees Council, police and road safety charity Brake to try to reach a solution.
But head teacher Claire Allen says much of the problem is down to the sheer geography of the school with most children living too far away to walk. “Only a small number of pupils actually live within walking distance,” she said.
On Friday morning, the MP walked to the school to assess the problem.
“There are some really nasty crossings around the school,” he said. “It has a difficult entrance and this is a dangerous situation.”
Traffic problems are not new at the school. In the past, double parking by parents has meant emergency vehicles have not been able to gain access.
“I want to talk to police, council and Brake to see if we can come up with a solution - a thoughtful response,” said Mr Sheerman. “Action is needed. We certainly don’t want a situation where a child is killed.
“It’s good that Ms Smith brought this to my attention. Let’s see if we can get organised and get some parents involved too.”
Ms Smith’s 10-year-old son Julian was slightly hurt as he was hit by a car crossing Lightridge Road. “It was a shocking experience,” she said.
She said Mr Sheeerman’s visit had been ‘useful’.
“It’s important to have his influence and connections,” said Ms Smith, who walks her two children to the school, just under a mile from their Fartown home.
She suggests parking restrictions and a crossing assistant as measures which would help.
Mrs Allen said: “I am working with parents to try to eliminate some of the issues.”
Pupils act as junior road safety officers to promote safety issues and the school is also working with the UK’s safe routes pioneer Sustrans to look at alternatives.
“The safety of the children is paramount,” said Mrs Allen, who is considering re-launching a ‘Park and Stride’ scheme whereby parents park at the nearby Asda store and walk the children to school from there.
Parking outside the school has been a problem for years. In 2014, an ambulance called to a sick pupil was stranded for 15 minutes - blocked by double-parked cars.
