School parking ‘needs action’

SPRINGFIELD Ward councillor Lorraine Wreford said driving and parking around schools was one of the biggest problems the council had to deal with.
Cr Wreford said it was disappointing that governments refused to provide drop off and pick up points for school children.
She said that given the facility would not be provided the council had the option of developing a code of conduct for parking around schools.
Springfield Ward’s other councillor, Michael Farley, said the council had to deal with a range of parking problems around schools.
He successfully asked that the council distribute a code of conduct for parking around schools to all primary and secondary schools in the City of Casey.
Trinity Catholic Primary School, Narre Warren South, Cranbourne West Primary School, and Hillsmeade Primary School, Narre Warren South were asked to develop a draft code of conduct.
Trinity and Cranbourne West endorsed the new code and Hillsmeade has given in principle support.
Casey acting manager of community safety Caroline Bell said in a report to the 18 July council meeting that traffic congestion and inappropriate behaviour on roads around schools could compromise children’s safety.
Ms Bell said there was a need to promote the rights and expectations of children going to and from school.
The code of conduct focuses on the safety and well being of school children but extends a message to all road users affected by inappropriate driver behaviour outside schools.
The document highlights the competition for limited parking spaces around schools and says that drivers take risks seeking alternative places to park.
It notes regular inappropriate activity such as double parking, the ignoring of parking signs, parking over school crossings, residential driveways, on nature strips, in staff car parks, and in narrow side roads.
It also notes that children are entitled to expect a safe environment.
The document says that the City of Casey is entitled to expect that parents and carers contribute to a safer road environment at peak school times by parking legally and adhering to the law.