Angry residents call for school run ban

They say irresponsible parking by parents outside Lenzie Primary School is endangering lives.

Angus Bradley, who lives nearby, told the Herald: “We have a huge problem and many residents are fed up writing to the council when they do nothing about it.

“Come to Myrtle Avenue any day from Monday to Friday and just hang around between 2.30pm and 3.15pm. See the chaos and cars drive along the pavement, park on yellow zig-zags and the mess created.”

He added: “This is before the merger of the two Lenzie school campuses. It’s just a matter of time before a child is seriously hurt.”

Michelle Manison posted on Facebook site Lenzie Stuff: “I stay in Almond Drive and I can hardly get my car through the street.”

Residents want a ban similar to the one imposed on 
motorists at peak times by East Lothian Council. It became the first local authority to introduce School Street Traffic Regulation Orders, which stop traffic from using the roads outside school entrances.

Lenzie woman Anne Paton posted: “It should happen at every school.”

Fellow resident Ann Purden added: “I wish they would do that here so I don’t have to plan outings around school drop-off and pick-up times.”

Sergeant Catriona McConchie, Local Authority Liaison Officer at Kirkintilloch police office, told the Herald: “Officers are regularly deployed around schools to promote child safety and influence driver behaviour, especially at peak times when a large number of people are parking and driving in the vicinity of the schools.

“Instances of irresponsible and dangerous driving and parking will be dealt with robustly by officers. This could result in drivers being issued with a fixed penalty ticket or being reported to the procurator fiscal resulting in a fine and points on their licence.”

Ann Davie, Director of Customer Services and Transformation, said, “Over recent months the council has been working closely with schools, parents and police to promote safe parking in and around our school estate.

“The community wardens have been monitoring parking in and around Lenzie Moss Primary School and have previously spoken to parents, issued PCNs to vehicles parked on restrictions and the school has also highlighted the issue in their communications with parents. We will continue to monitor the area.

“We urge all parents and carers who take children to school by car to be considerate in ensuring safety of all.”