More resources for school parking enforcement

Three additional officers will be recruited to focus on parking enforcement around schools following a decision by the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 20 March.

During the last academic year, more than half (45) of schools in Brighton & Hove asked the council for enforcement visits to deal with inconsiderate and dangerous parking on school ‘keep clear’ road markings.

Currently two assigned enforcement officers have been visiting one school in the morning and one in the afternoon, but the additional resource will more than double their capability, which will mean they will be able to attend more schools, more frequently.

There will be more action weeks to raise awareness of inconsiderate parking, and a ‘one stop shop’ page of advice for schools, parents and carers on the website.

The council will also explore the possibility of officers being able to issue instant fines around schools and body-worn cameras for school crossing patrol officers. A report t will come back to committee in the autumn on these options.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the committee, said:  “Putting in extra enforcement officers will help make the areas around our schools safer and reduce illegal parking.

“The additional officers will be able to assist with telephone complaints and provide extra patrols. We also propose bringing together the information about our school travel and road safety services which encourage walk to school and less parking outside schools so schools have a ‘one stop shop’ information resource.”

There are 71 enforceable school keep clear road markings in the city, so  more enforcement will be carried out with schools in areas outside of controlled parking zones, Requests to the council to take action on school parking outside of parking zones have increased by more than 100% in two years.

The council’s school travel team will continue to work closely with the parking enforcement team to offer resources to schools to help tackle parking issues.

Funding for the extra officers will be paid for by penalty charge notice (PCN) income (80%) with 20% coming out of the parking services budget.