Wardens target parking parents

They will be on a one-year contract and are part of the council crackdown on school run danger drivers after a year of Daily Echo campaigning.

James Duncan, transportation services manager said: "We anticipate the cost will be funded by ticketing.

"They will also be issuing tickets for anti-social parking at bus stops. We are after you, is the message."

Councillors at Tuesday's meeting of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny panel including chairman Mark Anderson praised the Echo's Parking Mad' campaign.

There was one dissenting voice - Cllr Sue Anderson, who said: "The Echo is constantly vilifying parents, and they always seem to say it's young mums'.

"It's an impossible situation and it's not going to go away.

"For example At Kings Park School, there's nowhere to park because of cars for sale and businesses with vehicles on the road."

She wanted parents to be able to drop children off at certain times outside schools according to a rota.

James Duncan, transportation services manager, said: "There's never a need for someone to drop their children off outside the school - 100 yards away should do it."

But Cllr Anderson replied: "Not having to walk 100 yards is neither here nor there.

"More and more young women are working and having children.

"There's an awful lot of single occupancy cars on the roads, mainly driven by men but this is always seen as a female problem."

Phil Shearing from the transport department said studies showed a low percentage of school run drivers went on to drive to work.

He added a high percentage drove less than two kilometres to the school - and that more walking would help tackle growing congestion and child obesity.

Cllr David Kelsey told the meeting at Kings Park School there are negotiations to use the playground as a parking area. He said there is also an arrangement for St Bethanys and St Clements and St John's to use a masonic hall as a drop off area, and for teachers to walk pupils over.