Police get tough on thoughtless Newport parents' parking
Police officers in a Shropshire town say they are being forced to consider stronger methods of school parking enforcement after complaints from residents.
People living in Wellington Road, Newport, claim they are being affected on a daily basis by parents blocking the road and footpaths in Brookside Avenue during drop off and pick up times at nearby schools.
Some residents have complained to the police as they cannot get in or out of their own driveways due to the volume of cars parked along the street.
Concerns have also been raised about the difficulties emergency service vehicles could face if access was needed to the properties.
Constable Lee Thomas said officers are losing count of the amount of warnings parents have been given about the issue.
He said: "Parking is a big issue in Newport in general, as many of our roads are narrow and not designed for the volume of traffic now using them.
"Issues around parent parking at school drop off and pick up times are among the most common complaints we receive.
"It's an issue that affects all of the 14 schools in the area that we cover and our team tries to rotate between all of the different locations on a daily basis.
"This means people are trying to move cars in both directions and negotiate parked vehicles all at the same time on a road that is only wide enough for one.
"We have appealed on numerous occasions via the school's parent email systems for those bringing children to school to park considerately.
"But we are coming close to losing count of how many warning notices we have put on cars since the start of this year alone.
"Where the problem has been particularly bad we have had no option but to issue £30 fixed penalty notices. This is not a position we want to be in but it is increasingly clear that our efforts to educate rather than enforce are falling on deaf ears."
Along with town councillor Eric Carter, the police team has been speaking to residents trying to come up with a solution.
Councillor Carter said: "I will be speaking to homeowners in Wellington Road about the issue and I hope a solution can be reached.
"I am working closely with Pc Thomas and I hope we can resolve the issue soon."
