Anti-social behaviour on the school run

8.55.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 24th Jan 2008

Judith Lubbock

The Liberal Democrats are asking Norwich City Council to do more to address the problem of dangerous parking outside schools.

Eaton Councillor Judith Lubbock is concerned at the chaos that happens outside schools during the school run. Dangerous parking can lead to accidents and increased traffic congestion. Local residents have told Cllr Lubbock that they see the problem as another form of anti-social behaviour.

The Lib Dems will call on the Council's Parking Attendants, soon to be known as Civil Enforcement Officers, to visit each school on a rota basis, at least once a term and issue fixed penalty tickets for dangerous parking. Although schools do what they can, the Lib Dems feel they need more help.

Cllr Judith Lubbock is seeking to ensure that all Norwich schools get a fair share of the Council's parking attendants. She said "I have been approached by residents who live near school entrances in Eaton who are getting fed up with the parking chaos which happens each day. This is anti-social behaviour and should be dealt with as such. I am asking that each school gets at least one visit each term from the Council's parking enforcement officers. This will at least ensure some fairness and hopefully some tickets being issued to deter the dangerous parking which happens daily."

"If this scheme is put into effect I hope the council will be able to monitor how many tickets are issued and whether there are improvements in the parking around schools."

Cllr Lubbock will ask the following question at this month's council:

"Please could the Executive Member ensure that each school gets at least one visit a term from the Parking Attendants to deter parents from this anti-social behaviour and that the school be notified when the parking attendants are due to visit."

This initiative continues the work of the Norwich Liberal Democrats to improve road safety. Over the last 12 months they have continued to lobby for a blanket 20mph speed limit in residential areas.