Councillors have called on city schools to take action to end the school run traffic carnage which on occasions result in punch ups.
The call came as city planning committee members approved a series of school extensions, including a temporary classroom for extra pupils at St Joseph’s RC Primary School in Four Oaks Sutton Coldfield.
Parent Bernadette Sweeny-Hill told councillors that the extra 30 form entry would become 210 more pupils over the next seven years as the school doubles in size.
“It’s already dangerous taking my children to school. There will be traffic carnage. The school’s travel plan has been a failure.”
Schools looking to expand pupil numbers or premises are expected to submit a formal travel plan to outline measures designed to cut car use.
But committee members have suggested these plans make little difference when parents on the school run are mounting kerbs, blocking drives and generally causing congestion.
Coun Maureen Cornish (cons, Sutton Four Oaks) said: “we have this problem with harassment of residents, inconsiderate parking, I don’t know what we’re going to do long term.”
Her colleague Fiona Williams (lab, Hodge Hill) added: “ Some parents don’t think the rules of the road or politeness apply to them.”
And Coun Martin Straker-Welds (Lab, Moseley and Kings Heath) described some schools in his ward as a ‘battlefield’ at the end of the day. “There have been punch ups between drivers.”
It was suggested by Coun Bob Beauchamp (Cons, Erdington) that they look at schools such as Perry Beeches II and Great Barr Schools which Marshall and manage drop offs successfully to learn lessons.
The committee has now asked to take a detailed look at school travel plans, particularly as increasing numbers of schools are expanding to cope with demand. They have called for closer working with the education authorities which approve school expansions.
Transport official Paul Cowen warned that travel plans must have targets and be measured against them. “We need to set targets and need to have sanctions if they are not met. These could be traffic regulation orders and enforcement.”
