Fines planned for illegal parking outside schools

Officials are set to get more powers to tackle bad parking outside schools in parts of Norfolk.

West Norfolk Council members have agreed to pursue giving civil enforcement officers more training that will allow them to issue fines and enforce parking regulations in the borough.

Councillors reported hearing more complaints of drivers causing traffic problems when dropping off and picking up children from school.

Parents outside Whitefriars Primary Academy in King's Lynn had mixed views about the plans welcoming better monitoring of the roads, but raising concerns about the fairness of fines.

Sophie Webber has two boys, 11-year-old Freddie and eight-year-old Charlie, at Whitefriars.

While she supported the idea of more supervision for parking, she thought the idea of a fine was "a bit harsh".

"People park on the corners and it makes it very hard to get out, but they don't really have another choice," she said.

"People try to do their best with the road that they've got. I think telling them to be a bit more responsible would make a difference. But sometimes you do get cars that drive down here like absolute loons".

Fiona Cheethum said she had also witnessed some bad parking when she dropped off her granddaughter, Emily.

Ms Cheethum also arrives up to an hour before the school gates open to ensure she can safely park near to the gate.

"Along here it can be a bit of a nightmare," she said.

"Some parents come late just to drive by and drop off which is all well and good but then it causes a back up for people trying to get out."

Whitefriars School has an agreement with the Borough Council offering parents free parking at nearby Boal Quay to reduce congestion.

The parking plan was part of a trio of amendments from the Labour group at the Independent coalition-led authority to this year's budget aimed at reducing antisocial behaviour.

Councillors voted to approve pursuing the three amendments at a full council meeting on 27 February.

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