Crackdown on 'dangerous' parking outside schools

Brighton and Hove City Council said during the last academic year, more than half of schools in Brighton and Hove asked the council for enforcement visits to deal with 'inconsiderate and dangerous parking' on school ‘keep clear’ road markings.

Currently two enforcement officers have been visiting one school in the morning and one in the afternoon, but the three extra officers will mean more schools can be monitored more frequently.

If agreed by the environment, transport and sustainability committee on Tuesday (March 20), the council will also buy two new scooters to enable officers to respond more quickly to reported problems.

Other planned improvements include more action weeks to raise awareness of inconsiderate parking, and a ‘one stop shop’ page of advice for schools, parents and carers on the council's website

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the committee, said: “Putting in extra enforcement officers will help make the areas around our schools safer and reduce illegal parking.

“The additional officers will be able to help with telephone complaints and provide extra patrols. We also propose bringing together the information about our school travel and road safety services which encourage walk to school and less parking outside schools so schools have a ‘one stop shop’ information resource.”

There are 71 enforceable school keep clear road markings in the city, so more enforcement will be carried out with schools in areas outside of controlled parking zones.

The council said funding for the extra officers will be paid for by penalty charge notice (PCN) income (80 per cent) with 20 per cent coming out of the parking services budget.