PARENTS are to be banned from using the car parks of Soham's primary schools after they were described as a potential hazard to children.
At a Soham Neighbourhood Panel meeting on Tuesday, county councillor John Powley told members that The Weatheralls School, where he is chairman of the premises committee, would be forced to close its car park to parents taking and collecting their ch
ildren from school.
The decision was made after Cambridgeshire County Council's health and safety officer carried out a risk assessment early last month and advised the school that the car park posed a potential danger to children.
A risk assessment was also carried out at St Andrew's Primary School, Sand Street, which will be implementing a month trial closure of its shared Beechurst entrance with Soham Village College.
This will begin on April 20 between 2.30pm and 3.30pm every day.
Both schools had written to parents on several occasions warning that parking was getting irresponsible and they would have to take action.
"If there is a danger to our children we have to do something about it," said Cllr Powley.
"The only conclusion we could come to was we would have to close our car park to parents bringing their children to school both in the morning and afternoon.
"We cannot risk the injury of a child when we have been made known there is a danger."
Exceptions will be made for disabled parents and pupils, visitors and staff of both schools, as well as people working at The Weatheralls Health Centre and new Children's Centre, which share the site.
Weatheralls headteacher Chrissy Barclay said they were awaiting approval for the ban from the main governing body.
She said parents were parking in spaces provided by the health centre for staff and patients and constantly blocked cars in.
"Our overriding concern is for the safety and well-being of the children," she said.
Richard Liddington, head teacher at St Andrew's, added: "We have resisted making this decision for some time but the number of vehicles now using the main entrance has increased so much we feel action is needed immediately. At peak times, emergency vehicles would not be able to get through.
"The safety and well-being of our pupils is paramount, and a large number of parents have already expressed their encouragement and support for the proposal."
