The head teacher and staff of a Broughty Ferry primary have been verbally abused by parents on the school run.
The claim was made at a talk at the latest meeting of the education committee into the progress of a travel plan initiative to stop the inappropriate parking and dropping off of children at school gates.
Such driver behaviour causes traffic congestion and poses safety concerns, and councillors noted that the scheme had been rolled out to all primaries but it was going better in some areas than in others.
Ferry councillor Rod Wallace said there was a problem at Forthill Primary in Fintry Place, and he continued, “It is inappropriate for the head teacher and staff to be verbally abused by car owners who are parking adjacent to bollards.”
Staff had been going out to speak to the parents to try to persuade them to stop further away from the school, but their efforts had been in vain.
He asked if progress was being made for the section of land on which the problem was happening to be formally adopted by the local authority. This would give parking enforcement action more strength.
Director of education Jim Collins noted Mr Wallace’s comments and said this was why a meeting had been convened between council officials and the police to discuss the Forthill situation.
He said, “What is required is a change in culture. Some parents are deciding it is one law for them and one law for other people. We have to do our best to change that culture using every means at our disposal.”
He said the council was looking into adopting the land which would allow parking legislation to be enforced. Other councillors commented on issues in their areas, with Kevin Keenan questioning progress in Ardler and Tom Ferguson in Lochee.
Mr Keenan asked if any driver had been fined for parking inappropriately outside a school or speeding in a 20mph zone. Depute chief executive Patricia McIlquham said she would try to find out.
Continued…
Mr Ferguson asked about the absence of a school crossing patroller in Lochee High Street, but was told this was due to illness. While this was regretted, there were a number of pedestrian crossings on that thoroughfare.
The travel plan initiative began at Park Place and Eastern primaries and was rolled out to the clusters of all secondary schools. A brand was developed to promote the initiative and each school had been given a “parking kit” containing cones, a trolley, banners and leaflets for parents.
Workshops have been delivered to pupils about active travel, and road safety and travel advisors had liaised with parents to raise awareness of the initiative. Police and parking attendants have visited schools targeting those worst affected by inappropriate parking and dropping off.
All schools have developed their own travel plans and a survey has shown that fewer pupils are driven to school but more “park and stride” or travel by bus.
Mr Collins concluded that if the scheme is to be successful, awareness activities and dialogue with parents will need to be continued.