A COUNCILLOR has warned parents are putting children’s lives at risk by parking their cars outside a South Shields school’s gates.
Coun Anne Walsh has issued the warning after concerns were raised at the volume of traffic parking outside the gates of Biddick Hall Junior School at teatime.
During a recent West Shields community area forum, resident Ann Usher also highlighted the issue.
Mrs Usher, who is a member of the Biddick Hall Focus Group, said: “This is the main bus route and we have parents double parking along the road, on yellow lines.
“There is going to be a child killed if nothing is done about it.
“These parents are making it so much harder for the crossing patrol, by parking so close to the gates and blocking vision of the road.”
Officers from the council’s traffic services have been out.
They are working with the school and nearby residents on ways to alleviate the problem, which could see parking restricted around the school at busy times.
Parking bays have also been put in to nearby Austen Avenue to give parents an alternative place to stop.
Police have been made aware of the concerns and have carried out a number of patrols in the area in the past.
Coun Walsh, who represents Biddick Hall and All Saints, said: “In the past 12 months this issue of cars parking up and causing a congestion is getting worse.
“We have been out on a number of occasions and witnessed parents parking up and not even getting out their cars to meet their children, so we have youngsters running along the side of a busy road.
“The whole thing is just an accident waiting to happen.”
Steve Prested, neighbourhood sergeant for West Shields, said: “Officers have been made aware of the traffic issues concerning Biddick Hall Junior School.
“We are working with our partners on addressing this issue.”
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