Speeding and inconsiderate car parking is being clamped down on outside three Burnage schools following measures imposed by both Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police.
Parents who park their cars either dangerously or illegally outside Burnage Media Arts College, St Bernard’s RC High School and Green End Primary School now face a £70 fine.
The police are also monitoring Burnage Lane to catch speeding motorists and Councillor Bev Craig, Labour member for Burnage, told MM these issues are long-standing.
“This has been a historic issue around the schools, affecting local residents and putting the children at risk,” she said. “We get regular reports from residents, the schools and parents.
“Myself and Councillor Carl Austin have worked to pull together the task group involving the schools, council and police to make sure we’re working together to tackle this.
“The operation will be part of a longer term initiative. Hopefully this will encourage people to take responsibility and face the risk of a fine if they’re caught.”
The measures were imposed after the schools wrote to parents reminding them to be considerate when dropping off or picking up their children, but the calls fell on deaf ears.
As a result, parents who now park their cars on zigzag lines outside the school are liable for a parking ticket.
Ian Fenn, Burnage Media Arts College’s headteacher, feels the measures are necessary to protect the 1,500 children who attend the three schools in Burnage Lane.
“It is essential that motorists behave responsibly,” he said. “Unfortunately not all do.”
“The action that the city council has taken this week is welcome and will save lives. It is as simple as that.”
Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council’s executive member for the environment, hopes the new deterrents will be an effective means of curbing these problems.
“I’m sure any parent who knows how busy the streets outside schools are as children arrive or leave will appreciate this is a potential recipe for disaster,” he said.
“We have been asked to do this by teachers and parents alike, who have told us that they regularly try to stop people parking dangerously outside the schools.
“They have had to contend with motorists speeding, as well as cars parked on zigzags lines outside the schools, blocking visibility for people trying to cross the road.”
Picture courtesy of Adrian Hart, via Flickr, with thanks
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