ALL day parking on a road leading to a Christchurch school will be banned in the near future.

Residents protested about the problem near Twynham School and on Wednesday the county council’s cabinet approved the making of an order which will limit parking to a maximum of one-hour, apart from those who live in Stourbank Road.

More than 70 per cent of residents in the road which leads directly to the school site had signed a petition calling for the move and they will now be given permits.

Councillors heard that the road is being used by both pupils and teachers to park throughout the day – causing difficulties for those who want to turn around, or park near their homes.

Christchurch town centre councillor Peter Hall) said: “I am very pleased we managed to get this in place. The majority of residents backed the plan. They live in the only road that goes to the school and does not have a system in place like this already.

"It works well and has been a success on the other roads.

"In Stourbank Road, residents have had to put up with people parking right across their driveways. Staff and sixth form students from the school use them and there is not adequate parking on the site. It is a very difficult situation.

“I have been pushing for resident car parking arrangements in all of the town centre roads that need it.”

One resident, who responded to a consultation on the measure, described parking in the road as ‘a nightmare’ claiming that several cars had been damaged due to the high volume of parking especially during term time.

“We have had to pull our child from the path of vehicles mounting the narrow pavement,” another added. “The number of Twynham pupils walking/cycling and drivers speeding and competing for parking spaces in the crowded and narrow street could result in a serious accident.”

One of the residents objecting to the proposals said they would do nothing to make parking easier in the evenings and would reduce spaces.