Parents are taking action to stop the lives of children being put at risk by drivers parking illegally at a city school.
Banners have been put up outside Cults Primary highlighting how “dangerous” it is for motorists to stop on zig-zag lines.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of pupils weaving their way round badly parked cars to get into the building, particularly with an increase of traffic in the mornings.
The parent-teacher association held a crisis meeting this week to discuss the issues of verge parking, parking on pavements and in disabled bays. Talks were held with local residents, police and school staff amid claims that the “unacceptable and inconsiderate” behaviour of some parents dropping off their children was reaching “new heights”.”
Senior city warden Scott McCall said the work of the families involved in the campaign was testament to the “power of parents working together and making a difference.”
He said: “We are relying on parents to cooperate.”
In March, police stopped more than 40 motorists for parking illegally at schools across the north-east.
And Mr McCall said he had issued five tickets outside city schools in the last three days to parents parking illegally.
He said: “The problem is, people don’t think they need to pay them.
“What parents need to know is that not paying a £60 fine can lead to your car getting uplifted.”
Parking concerns are not confined to the city however, similar issues are also being raised further afield.
One parent at Kemnay Academy in Aberdeenshire, who did not want to be named, said parents were abusing the designated taxi rank.
The taxi rank has space for three vehicles and is reserved for students with accessibility requirements.
Local councillor Hazel Smith said there was little the school could do to alleviate the situation.
She said: “It is very busy at certain times. Previously it mainly concerned the parking of the school buses and that has been alleviated somewhat by an extended parking bay.
“As for cars, it’s not only parents but also residents parking on the road as well, so I can’t see how the school can improve matters.”
Senior warden Scott McCall said that everyone should work together to make sure children were safe.
He said: “Because city wardens dip in and out of every school, we see different techniques and can pass that on to parents. We also can talk to kids at school assemblies and that feeds back to their family.”
Lower Deeside councillor Phillip Bell, who was also at the meeting at Cults this week, said: “Resources are limited and we are lucky to have these wardens. It’s a question of increasing education and mindsets.”
An Aberdeen City Council spokeswoman said: “We are committed to working with schools, parents, and other partners to reduce the issue of motorists parking in drop off zones.”
