School-run near miss sparks alert
The on-going problem was highlighted again after a frightening incident last week when a seven-year-old girl, Naomi Cawley, was nearly run over when a car reversed unexpectedly outside Flakefleet Primary School as she wheeled her scooter.
It was only the intervention of a woman crossing the road which saved the youngster from serious injury, when she pushed her out of the way.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe scooter fell under the vehicle, which was parked outside the school, but the seven-year-old was unhurt.
Naomi was with her mum, Mary, who was so shaken by the incident she plans to start a petition try and discourage people from parking right in front of the school when they drop their children off or collect them.
Mrs Cawley, 39, of Lindel Road, said: “I wouldn’t like that to happen to anyone else.
“Someone could be killed next time.”
Dave McPartlin, head teacher at the school on Northfleet Avenue, raised concerns last year about some people parking on the zigzag zone outside the school.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe says the problem is still there but now they are also parking up on corners, blocking off other motorist’s vision and creating a potential deadly situation for children walking into and out of school.
He said: “We’ve had to resort to these yellow signs because people are not getting the message.
“We are placing them outside the school gates so that, hopefully, parents can’t miss them.
“The safety and wellbeing of children at this school is my priority and it got to the stage where we had to be pro-active.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe signs state: “Parking here could endanger a child’s life”.
Mum-of-four Mrs Cawley, of Lindel Road, said: “Naomi was with me and my mine year old son, Craig and we were trying to cross to get into school in the morning, when the car moved backwards.
“This older woman was able to push him out of the way. If she hadn’t been there I dread to think what could have happened.”
Other schools in Fleetwood are still battling to stop a minority of parents from parking dangerously in front of the school gates.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLast year it was revealed that police in Fleetwood were to use hidden cameras to monitor school-run parents}.
And there were plans to get tough and hit offenders with on-the-spot fines of £60 if they are caught, after receiving complaints from the public.
“We are placing them outside the school gates so that, hopefully, parents can’t miss them.
“The safety and wellbeing of children at this school is my priority and it got to the stage where we had to be pro-active.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe signs state: “Parking here could endanger a child’s life”.
Mum-of-four Mrs Cawley, of Lindel Road, said: “Naomi was with me and my mine year old son, Craig and we were trying to cross to get into school in the morning, when the car moved backwards.
“This older woman was able to push him out of the way.
“If she hadn’t been there I dread to think what could have happened.
“I will setting up the petition to raise more awareness of parking and make people think about where they park.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFlakefleet is not the only school in Fleetwood which has experienced the problem.
Schools in Fleetwood are still battling to stop a minority of parents from parking dangerously in front of the school gates.
Last year it was revealed that police in Fleetwood were to use hidden cameras to monitor school-run parents}.
And there were plans to get tough and hit offenders with on-the-spot fines of £60 if they are caught, after receiving complaints from the public.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMr McPartlin, added: “It is a real problem. We’re talking about just a small minority of parents.
“If they just parked up around the corner, there wouldn’t be an issue. They have been told about this.”