Parking can be an issue at many schools around the country. There can be issues with over crowding, noise levels as well as an increase in pollution levels around the area.
Young children who attend a Salford Primary School are taking immediate action in a plea to enable parents to park safely away from the school gates or request them to stop bringing cars to school altogether. Those who took part designed a number of road safety and clean air posters as a way of evoking emotions which will make car users imagine what could happen if a child is accidentally struck by a car and the ammount of upset it would cause.
The new posters are being designed as part of a competition in which their will be five winning entries. The children who win will have their signs manufactured and displayed outside Grosvenor Road primary school, Parkgate Drive, Swinton, and will ask parents to consider walking or cycling to school. This will have a hige impact on the overall health of the community as it will improve the fitness of many of the residents and avoid unnecessary car fumes being pumped out in to the atmosphere. Studies have shown that the earth’s temperature is rising year on year mainly due to the amount of greenhouse gas there is in the atmosphere. If changes aren’t made soon, the planet will be on an ever warming trend which will continue to see temperatures rising. Trends in the climate will also worsen and will eventually cause more flookding due to melting sea ice.
Head teacher Mr Lee Pridden said: “We have been concerned about the poor parking around Grosvenor Road Primary School for a considerable time. We have requested on many occasions that parents park well away from our school, parking respectfully and with consideration to our neighbours and pedestrians. It’s disappointing that some parents continue to ignore this request.”
Councillor Mike McCusker lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development, said: “It’s a shame that children even have to ask but inconsiderate parking is an issue for schools right across the country.
“We’re sending out patrols and using mobile CCTV cameras to tackle hotspots, but it’s down to adults to be responsible. If they can avoid bringing the car to school so much the better.”
Councillor Jim Cammell, lead member for children’s and young people’s services said: “Walking with children to and from school is a great way to spend time with them and build more exercise into your day, which is great for wellbeing, as well as reducing pollution locally. I hope the posters encourage more walking, cycling or scooting to school, making use of the nearby Swinton Greenway and other traffic free routes, as well as tackling irresponsible parking.”
On the whole, schools around the country have to take their own action in order to maintain parents park in a safe and secure manner when thiy pick up their children. Local councils don’t have the time or the money to deal with such matters so more and more schools are encouraging parents to walk or cycle.
Parents are being told that they should discuss the benefits of schemes where groups of children walk or cycle home together. This will improve the element of safety and will ensure that children who live in one area can look out for each other to ensure everyone remains safe.
Another way to cut down on the number of cars parking outside schools would be to encourage children to travel by bus home. This will help them gain more independence and let them get used to using different routes to get home. This can improve their brain functioning and improve their chances of developing at school.
