Gloucester child knocked off bike sparks calls for clampdown on …

An incident where a child was knocked off their bike in Gloucester has sparked calls for a clampdown on illegal parking outside city schools. Gloucester City Councillors ^[1] are due to debate a motion this week which calls for more action to prevent illegal and unsafe parking outside schools.

Councillor Brendon O’Donnell ^[2] (I, Matson, Robinswood and White City) says safety around schools is getting ridiculous with drivers not caring where they park. He says in his motion that people often park on blind bends and that a child from a city school was knocked off their bike due to parked cars blocking the view.

He would like schools and community centres to be given more powers to be able to fine motorists who flout parking rules. “We have cars speeding down roads near schools showing no care about people, even children crossing the road.

“Therefore, I would like to motion that schools and community centres be given the authority to issue fines themselves, and the money put back into said community – the problem is it requires a change in the law, which neither City nor County Council ^[4] has the power to actually make happen.”

His motion asks the City Council to write to the relevant cabinet member at Shire Hall and ask them to do more to prevent illegal and unsafe parking outside schools and community centres in order to stop a lot of the anti-social drivers. Councillors are expected to debate the motion at their meeting on Thursday July 13.

Gloucestershire County Council ^[5]‘s road safety cabinet member Dave Norman (C, Grange) said any vehicles they find parking illegally will be fined.

“Safety is our priority and we support a range of measures to promote walking and cycling to school, which aim to improve air quality as well as safety. Markings are placed outside schools to prevent vehicles stopping as well as keeping the areas clear and we would encourage parents and residents to adhere to these restrictions.

“Any vehicles found to be parking illegally will receive a penalty charge notice.”

References

^{^} Gloucester City Councillors (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Brendon O’Donnell (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Gloucester civic chiefs to rebuke Government for abandoning pledge to end puppy smuggling (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} County Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
^{^} Gloucestershire County Council (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)