Pupils get tough on illegal parking

By akeller

PUPILS at an Armitage school are primed to employ 'pester power' in a crackdown on illegal parking outside their school.

Children at The Croft Primary School will be taking on motorists – and their own parents – who park inconsiderately or dangerously.

The campaign is the same as that launched at Holly Grove Primary School in Burntwood last month.

County councillor Frank Lewis MBE said: "This is an excellent campaign that is already working very well at Holly Grove.

"Pester power is an excellent tool and I'm sure that pupils will have a big impact on the people who are clogging up the streets around the school."

At The Croft, which is the second school in the area to take part in the project, a group of 10 and 11-year-olds will work to get their message across to drivers who park irresponsibly near to school gates.

Councillor Lewis added: "It is great that the young people are on board with this.

"The vast majority of schools face problems with motorists parking inconsiderately or even illegally in some cases, and this scheme is an innovative way of educating people of the dangers that this poses.

"Safety is a number one priority for the county council and the community as a whole and this is not an issue that we will shy away from."

Staffordshire County Council has joined forces with Staffordshire Police to run the campaign.

Children from the Rugeley Road school will learn exactly why motorists should not park illegally and the ways in which inconsiderate parking affects people living near the site.

PCSO Lisa Anderson will make regular visits to the school, enlisting the help of two Year Six pupils each time.

They will identify vehicles on footpaths, zig-zag or yellow lines that block driveways or those parked opposite or within 10 metres of a junction.

The culprits will then be given an 'advice postcard' filled in by the children, warning them how dangerous their hazardous parking is.

Classes will keep a record of how many postcards are handed out so pupils can track any improvements over time.

Inspector Dave Challinor, commander of Burntwood and district neighbourhood policing unit, added: "We fully support the initiative and would appeal to parents to always think of safety when parking their car."