Council clamp down will improve children's safety

Motorists who persist in driving and parking on pavements and verges around schools putting children’s safety at risk, could receive on the spot fines.

Brighton & Hove City Council is launching the second phase of its multi-agency initiative to target inconsiderate driving in areas around four city schools.

During October, council and police officers will be out and about in the streets around schools where poor parking behaviour has been reported. The initiative aims to highlight the dangers of stopping and parking on pavements and verges, to encourage motorists to drive responsibly and to improve safety for everyone, especially pedestrians walking to school.

It follows a successful campaign earlier this year to deal with nuisance and anti-social parking behaviour at locations throughout the city.

Action days will be held on:

* Tuesday 21 October AM  Rudyard Kipling Primary School,  Woodingdean.  Centered around: Chalkland Rise, Downs Valley Road and Crescent Drive South

* Wednesday 22 October PM  Westdene Primary School, Bankside, Brighton.  Centered around: Bankside, Barn Rise and Dene Vale

* Thursday 23 October AM Aldrington CE Primary School, Hove. Centered around Eridge Road junction with Nevill Road, and both sides of Nevill Road between nos. 120 and 156 inclusive.

* Friday 24 October PM Hangleton Infant and Junior Schools, Hove. Centered around top end of Dale View and junctions with Summerdale & Gleton Roads

Enforcement action will be taken against illegal, inconsiderate and unsafe parking and poor driver behaviour.  This includes parking on double yellow lines or other waiting and loading restrictions, driving and parking on verges and footways, use of mobile phones when driving and any other road traffic offence.

Councillor Pete West, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee said:

“Our Safer Routes to School programmes are encouraging more and more children to travel to the classroom on foot. Therefore it is vital to ensure that nearby pavements and junctions are kept free from obstruction, and motorists remain alert and drive thoughtfully to enable everyone to travel safely to and from school.”