NEW proposals to tackle unsafe parking outside Knutsford primary schools will help address ‘significant concerns’, a headteacher has said.

Following on from the extension of zigzag lines in September, Cheshire East Council is proposing a ‘no stopping order’ to allow traffic wardens and PCSOs to enforce the rules as well as police.

A Cheshire East Council notice explaining the decision said that Knutsford’s new traffic regulation order (TRO) restricting traffic between 8am and 5pm on weekedays will fall in line with Department for Transport recommendations.

The notice reads: “Parking outside schools at dropping off and picking up time is a recognised, long-standing and growing national problem.

“Typical illegal behaviour includes parking on ‘School Keep Clear’ road markings, which is not just an issue of safety but a problem of traffic congestion and nuisance to pedestrians and local residents.

“It has become more and more difficult for any kind of worthwhile enforcement to be undertaken against motorists parking on these markings in spite of requests from the schools and the police.”

Some schools have experienced serious issues with unsafe parking and road use – none more so than Bexton Primary School.

Headteacher Emily Armstrong told the Guardian that although the new enforcement in a step in the right direction, there is still a way to go to improve safety around the school.

Mrs Armstrong said: “While this is excellent news, we still have significant concerns about the safety of our children when crossing the road outside school.

“The crossing zones on Bexton Lane and Blackhill Lane were removed in September and replaced by the yellow zigzag markings.

“This caused much confusion for our families and now means our children have no place to safely cross the road – Blackhill Lane is often used as a cut through in the morning and many drivers completely ignore the 20mph limit resulting in some very near misses.

“As always, it is only one or two people who regularly choose to park inappropriately or drive illegally, but in doing so, it makes life very difficult for the rest of the school community.”

Other Knutsford schools set to benefit from the changes are Egerton Primary School, Manor Park School, St Vincent de Paul Primary School, Yorston Lodge School and Peover Superior Primary School.

Visit cheshireeast.gov.uk to see the full proposal.