Portsmouth school governor's warning over safety of pupils

'˜LAZY' parents are causing a safety risk by breaking parking rules when dropping off their children at school.

Despite repeated warnings about the dangers, parents at Gatcombe Park Primary in Hilsea are stopping their cars on yellow zig-zag lines – which are meant to be clear of traffic for the safety of pupils.

School governor Steve Challis, 34, of Merlin Drive, Hilsea, believed the issue was down to laziness.

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He said: ‘Parents stop outside the school just so they don’t have to walk across the road. It is the safety of the children that I’m worried about.

‘I saw someone stop in the middle of the road and just abandon their car – it is nothing short of laziness, especially when there was a car parking space directly opposite.

‘It is supposed to be their job to keep their child safe and yet the same parents continue to break the rules. It doesn’t make sense.’

Steve decided to act on the problem by contacting councillors to see what could be done.

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He said: ‘Apparently we are a “medium-risk school” and a councillor has already come out to the school eight times, so there is not much else they can do.

‘I understand other schools have experienced this as well.

‘It is not just us who have to deal with the parking problem, so I know councillors have a lot to deal with.

‘It just feels like we’re fighting a losing battle.’

Mr Challis said four different traffic wardens had been at the school recently, but even their presence had not had any effect.

He said: ‘‘I don’t know what more can be done.’

The school declined to comment.

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