If there’s one issue that consistently lands in my inbox, time and time again, it’s parking around our schools. It’s one of those topics that people feel very strongly about, and quite rightly so. For many families across Coalville and the wider North West Leicestershire area, the school run is part of the daily routine. But what should be a simple, safe journey to and from school can too often become stressful, chaotic, and in some cases, dangerous.
Over the past few years, I’ve made it a priority to work closely with a number of our local schools to better understand the challenges they face and to try and find practical solutions. I’ve spent time with schools such as Hugglescote Primary and Broom Leys Primary, and I’ve also met with the heads of Newbridge, Belvoirdale Primary, Ellistown Primary and All Saints Primary. Regardless of the school, the message is consistent. The safety of children must always come first.
I want to be clear, I fully appreciate the pressures that families are under. Life is busy. Many parents are balancing work commitments, childcare, and tight schedules, often trying to be in two places at once. For many, dropping children off at school is part of a much bigger morning routine that involves getting to work on time. I understand that reality, and I approach this issue with that in mind.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that certain behaviours around school gates are creating real risks. Parking on pavements, stopping in unsafe locations, blocking residents’ driveways, or parking in ways that obscure visibility for children crossing the road might seem like a quick and convenient solution in the moment. But these actions can have serious consequences. Young children are not always visible to drivers, and when sightlines are blocked, the risk of an accident increases significantly.
It only takes one moment, one misjudgement, for a situation to escalate into something far more serious. And when it comes to the safety of our children, that is simply not a risk we should be willing to take.
That’s why I’ve been working to find solutions that actually make a difference on the ground. One of the most positive examples of this has been at Belvoirdale Primary School. Around two years ago, I worked closely with Mr Dax and the school community to introduce a School Streets pilot scheme. This was the first scheme of its kind in Leicestershire, designed to restrict traffic around the school during peak times and create a safer environment for children arriving and leaving.
I’m pleased to say that the scheme proved successful and has since been made permanent. Not only that, but it has also paved the way for similar initiatives to be introduced at other schools across the county. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when schools, the council and the community work together with a shared goal.
However, it’s important to be honest. School Streets are not a silver bullet. They work well in certain locations, particularly where the road layout allows for safe diversions and enforcement, but they are not suitable for every school. Each school sits within a unique environment, and what works in one area may not be practical in another. That means we need a range of approaches, not just one.
Alongside these schemes, I’ve also been pushing for more targeted measures. I have written to Highways to request additional parking restrictions during school times where appropriate, and I have contacted North West Leicestershire District Council to ask for increased enforcement presence at known problem locations.
But the reality is that resources are limited. There are far more schools than there are enforcement officers, and they cannot be everywhere at once. Enforcement has a role to play, but it cannot be the only answer.
This is where a bit of common sense and community responsibility becomes so important. Small changes in behaviour can have a big impact. Parking a little further away and walking the last few minutes, avoiding blocking driveways, and being mindful of sightlines around crossings all contribute to a safer environment for everyone.
I also want to recognise the efforts of residents and parents who are actively campaigning for improvements. Local parent Abbey Bailley, for example, has been campaigning for a pedestrian crossing on Belvoir Road and Avenue Road. This is something I fully support, and I am keen to see progress made. It’s exactly the kind of constructive, community led approach that helps drive positive change.
At its heart, this issue is not about blame. It’s about awareness, responsibility and working together. We all want the same thing. We want our children to be safe. We want our neighbourhoods to be respected. And we want the school run to be something that families can carry out without fear or frustration.
As your local county councillor, I will continue to work with schools, residents and council officers to push for improvements where they are needed. Whether that’s new schemes, better enforcement, or infrastructure changes, I will keep doing everything I can to get stuff done.
But ultimately, the biggest difference will come from the choices we all make day to day. A small bit of consideration at the school gates can go a very long way.
Because when it comes to our children’s safety, nothing matters more.
