Accident worry over school parking ‘gridlock’
Safety concern...worried parent Joanne Browne outside John Wycliffe Primary school (Picture: Andrew Carpenter/001403-90)
A WORRIED mum says traffic problems outside two of Lutterworth’s schools have reached a crisis point.
Pick-up and drop-off times around Lutterworth High School and John Wycliffe Primary School mean Woodway Road and Moorbarns Lane are completely gridlocked, according to Joanne Browne.
She says the problem is made worse when school buses try to negotiate the traffic and says she has seen queues of cars being forced to reverse along Woodway Road to let others pass.
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Mrs Browne, who lives in Robinia Close, said: “The issue is worse at pick-up time than in the morning but sometimes cars can be sat, not moving, for ten minutes or more.”
Mrs Browne’s husband Marc says he is concerned that it is only a matter of time before there is an accident.
He contacted the Mail after witnessing crossing patrol staff, more commonly known as lollipop men and ladies, being verbally abused by parents after it was pointed out to them that they were parked illegally.
Mr Browne said: “The main issue is that there is just too much traffic.
“I’ve seen buses protruding out of the high school car park which inhibits pedestrians crossing safely and my wife sometimes can’t walk along the path because it’s completely blocked by cars.
“There are some excellent crossing staff who are trying to help the issue improve but I’ve seen them subject to verbal abuse and general ignorance from parents using cars which are parked illegally.”
Mr Browne said he has also seen staff at Lutterworth High School parking on the road outside the school when there are vacant spaces in the high school’s car park.
He added: “I believe this is to ensure a speedy getaway at the end of the day.”
Mr Browne said the area around Lutterworth College and Sherrier Primary School is also very busy at peak times. He added: “I’m surprised there hasn’t been an accident already.
“My wife is a childminder and drops children off at John Wycliffe Primary School, but she parks some distance away to not make the issue worse.”
Nora Parker, head teacher at Lutterworth High School, said: “The high school makes every effort to work with the local community and John Wycliffe Primary School to park considerately at all times.”
John Wycliffe Primary School also addressed the issue in its last newsletter, pointing out that one of the crossing patrol people had almost been hit by a car.
In the newsletter, head teacher Emma Nuttall said: “Parking is always an issue around the school as it is limited.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
