ILLEGAL parking around St Matthew’s Primary School’s pick-up times in Little Church Street, Windsor, was compromising road safety and inconveniencing people, a local resident said.
The resident, who did not want to give his name, said only strict enforcement of parking rules would stop this.
‘‘Cars are double-parked along the entire length of the street on the school side at drop-off and pick-up times,’’ he said.
‘‘People regularly park across residents’ driveways which means they are unable to drive out or into their homes.
‘‘I am a carer for my elderly parents and need to be able to drive to their home.
‘‘My son’s car has been run into twice by people attempting to park in the street and my neighbour’s car was also damaged.’’
He also said some motorists exceeded parking times in the school’s driveway and even left their cars idling while they entered the school.
‘‘Occasionally there is a parking inspector on patrol, however, the poor behaviour of motorists returns once they have left,’’ he said.
‘‘The safety of school children and others is compromised.’’
He suggested Hawkesbury Council roster parking officers on different days each month so motorists were uncertain when it was safe to park illegally.
He also suggested installing surveillance cameras and removing the set-down and pick-up area outside the school to discourage parking there.
‘‘Require parents to park and walk to the school to pick-up or drop-off their children,’’ he said.
‘‘A large proportion of the school population already does this.’’
He said exceptions could be made for people with disabilities.
Hawkesbury Council’s city planning director Matthew Owens said extra parking officers were employed on a ‘‘needs basis’’.
‘‘Council has a program for patrolling all school zones in the Hawkesbury that avoids a regular pattern of certain days of the week in an attempt to encourage improved driver behaviour,’’ Mr Owens said.
‘‘There is a need for Council and school communities to educate and encourage appropriate driver behaviour.
‘‘Poor driver behaviour would not necessarily be improved by additional fines and parking restrictions alone.’’
He said parking problems around schools could possibly be addressed by other solutions, such as staggered leaving times for students, but that would be a matter for schools and their communities.
St Matthew’s Primary’s principal Stephen Dowd said he understood pick-up times at the school could be difficult.
‘‘But the majority of people are doing the right thing,’’ Mr Dowd said.
‘‘We will continue to work with our community to be mindful of our neighbours and to ensure the safety of our students by adhering to parking regulations.
‘‘We thank everyone who is doing the right thing.’’
