Parents' parking plea after pupil hit by car

Brendan Mitchell, who used to be a school governor, called the parking situation outside of the school "terrible"

Parents who said parking arrangements outside a primary school were an "accident waiting to happen" have called for more safety measures after a pupil was hit by a car.

The pupil, who was not seriously injured in the collision, was struck on their way to St Gabriel's CofE Academy in Houlton, Warwickshire.

Brendan Mitchell, who used to be a school governor, said the parking situation outside of the school was "terrible".

A spokesperson for Urban and Civic, the developer of the estate the school is on, said safety was a "key priority" for the company.

Mr Mitchell said he has challenged both the developer and the local highways authority about the lack of road marking or formal crossing point.

"We sit here in the mornings watching the chaos and it is terrible," he said.

"Parents need to park a bit more considerately, but there has been so little enforcement by any of the authorities and the developer that it's kind of almost been permitted, because nothing's been done."

Headteacher Andy Taylor made a plea on Wednesday for parents to "think of others" while dropping their children off

Another parent, Charmaine Curtis, said it could be "scary" to cross the road outside the school.

"It amazes me how they have built this school and not put any sort of pedestrian crossing or any of the zig zag lines out the front to prevent people from parking," she said.

"It's always been an accident waiting to happen."

Headteacher Andy Taylor made a plea on Wednesday for parents to "think of others" while dropping their children off.

"We would really, really appreciate the developers or the council coming together to install some really robust safety measures," he said

"It's really frustrating to feel that things could be done.

"We're just really concerned that action is taken at the earliest opportunity now, so that there aren't any more accidents waiting to happen out there."

The Urban and Civic spokesperson said: “We were sorry to hear about the incident close to St Gabriel’s yesterday.

"Safety is a key priority for us and we have regular discussions with Warwickshire Police and other stakeholders on issues around road safety and speeding in Houlton.

"Road design and layout is something that we have to agree with the Highways Authority, Warwickshire County Council, and ahead of adoption we have been working with them on plans for additional measures in the school safety zone at St Gabriel’s.

"Whilst these measures are being approved and implemented, we are organising temporary crossing marshals to be in place from Monday.”

A Warwickshire County Council spokesperson said temporary crossing measures will be installed outside the school in the coming days.

"We are aware of the incident and extend our best wishes to the child and their family," a spokesperson said.

"We will work with the school and the developer to monitor any road safety risks in order to investigate and assess what solutions might be appropriate."