POLICE have been cracking down on illegal and inconsiderate parking at a school in Pitsea, after a parent of a disabled girl raised concerns over safety.
People had been obstructing paths and the school entrance at Whitmore Junior and Infant School, Whitmore Way, Pitsea. The concerned parent had found the cars were obstructing the dropped kerbs, making it impossible to push the wheelchair safely. Other parents had also reported how they had to walk their children into the busy road to get around the cars.
PCSO Gary Newton (pictured with a colleague), of the Fryerns neighbourhood policing team, said: “We were contacted by a parent about a month ago, who was concerned that a minority of parents were parking dangerously near the school, and obstructing access for her child’s wheelchair.
“Since we have been patrolling the area at key hours, we have noticed a dramatic difference, and people have now been parking considerately. The school have been very supportive. We understand it is an inconvenience to park far away when you collect your children, but when child safety is at risk, we will do all we can with the support of officers and parking wardens to make sure it stops.”