CCTV to be used to “capture” parents who park illegally

PARENTS who park inconsiderately when picking-up or dropping off their children at school in Warrington could soon be “captured” by CCTV cameras.
The borough council is to pilot the use of new civil enforcement vehicles next month which use CCTV to catch cars contravening school keep clear markings.
It is part of a package of measures being introduced to ease congestion and inconsiderate parking around Oakwood Avenue Primary School. The vehicles will also be tried out at other schools suffering similar problems.
Local councillors and council officers have been working closely together with the school and local residents to tackle the issue and have already introduced measures such as school keep clear markings and single yellow line restrictions at school start and finish times and the closure of the school gate on Steel Street to deter parents from parking or turning on the very narrow, dead end street.
The school has also had an increased presence of civil enforcement officers and police community support officers as well as additional education by the council’s road safety team. Further education and enforcement will take place at the school over the next 12 months.
An access only restriction is also to be trialled on Steel Street as residents have complained that the “backs” at the rear of the street are often obstructed by inconsiderate motorists meaning they cannot enter or leave the road.
Surveys carried out before and since the measures were introduced show the parking situation has improved with some parking being dispersed into surrounding areas.
Cllr Hans Mundry, the council’s lead member for highways transportation and public realm, said: “It has been important to listen to people which is what we have done and has resulted in the actions already delivered. It is good news for the school and local residents to have all these measures put in place and we hope the situation continues to improve.
“Regardless of parking restrictions or engineering measures however, we are very keen for parents/guardians to be more considerate and responsible in their parking behaviour around schools and to consider the possible consequences.
“This would greatly help towards tackling the parking issues experienced around many schools across the borough.”
The new civil enforcement vehicles are being trialled at Oakwood Avenue Primary School for two weeks in April but will also be targeting other schools with similar issues to see if they work as a deterrent for inconsiderate and dangerous parking.