Illegal parkers at school gates - pupils on patrol

Illegal parkers will no longer be able to get away with it if the pupils of Elm Wood Primary in Middleton, Our Lady and St Paul’s Primary in Heywood, Crossgates Primary in Milnrow, Holy Family RC Primary in Kirkholt and Shawclough Primary in Rochdale have anything to do with it.

11 year olds turned junior Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be patrolling the school gates looking to move on illegal parkers or book them.

Dressed in their high visibility jackets with notebook in hand, they will be recording the registration numbers of people who illegally park their cars on the prohibited zigzags lines outside school.

Rochdale Borough Council has been receiving an increasing number of complaints from schools and concerned parents about this issue. People who park illegally face a £70 fine.

Jacqui Hogg, Community Liaison Officer at the Impact Partnership, who manage road safety on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council said: "Parking outside schools on zigzag lines is illegal, and also very dangerous, as pedestrian views are restricted and drivers cannot see children stepping out from in between cars. We hope that by adopting this joint approach of working with the PCSO’s, school children and the teachers this scheme will raise awareness and hopefully change peoples’ parking habits outside the school gates."

Helen Arnold, Headteacher at Holy Family RC Primary School, said: “We’re really happy to take part in this project. Although the majority of parents park responsibly, many are parking on our zigzags which has been a problem for us for some time now, even the children have commented that it’s dangerous. Our year 6 pupils have embraced the extra responsibility and we sincerely hope we can help change the attitudes of some parents to make the roads outside our school safer for everyone.”

Coordinating the project for Rochdale Division is Sergeant Shoheb Chowdhury. He said: “This is a joint initiative, which raises awareness of the dangers caused by irresponsible and dangerous parking. By working with the schools and children we hope we can highlight the problem of traffic congestion around school entrances to parents and put an end to this problem.”

The scheme will run for 3 months in each area. Each school has carried out a thorough risk assessment to ensure the safety of the Junior PCSOs is maintained at all times.

The junior PCSOs will be presented with a special certificate to recognise their efforts as law enforcers.