Council urged to explore ban on parking at primary schools

Fife Council’s north east Fife area committee has agreed to promote a traffic regulation order for ‘no waiting at any time’ restrictions to prevent people parking inappropriately during the school run.

Councillor Frances Melville, committee chairman, said: “Consultation with Police Scotland, the education service and the school parent council has taken place and they are in agreement that the restrictions will address road safety concerns arising from congestion and inappropriate parking at school drop-off and pick-up times.

“As many as 60 cars may be around the vicinity of the school gates, which results in queueing traffic, unsafe reversing manoeuvres, vehicles mounting the footway to pass and pupils exiting vehicles directly on to the busy road.

“The primary school has a proactive travel plan in place which encourages parents, carers and children to walk and cycle to school as well as park appropriately within and out with the school grounds.”

Meanwhile, Taybridgehead councillor Tim Brett has written to Councillor Pat Callaghan, the local authority’s transport spokesman, urging him to consider introducing a total ban on parking outside schools.

He said: “Problems of parking at our primary schools are pretty much universal in Fife and a major cause of concern to parent councils. In my ward, this has been raised in connection with all six primaries.”

Councillor Tim Brett is calling on Fife Council to study a pilot scheme in Edinburgh to see if it could be implemented in parts of the Kingdom.

The 18-month pilot, which began last September, bans parking outside all primary schools and has been hailed a success.

It has led to an increase in the number of pupils walking to school, lower vehicle speeds on surrounding roads and a reduction in the number of cars around schools.

A report to the city council’s transport and environment committee recommended making the pilot permanent and the Living Streets Scotland charity wants it rolled out nationwide.

It is not calling for a complete ban on cars around all schools, as it said each should be considered on a case-by-case basis.