Angry parents at a Nantwich primary school have slammed a two-year delay over a new car park which should resolve traffic dangers children face every day.
Parents say youngsters walking to and from Stapeley Broad Lane Primary are dicing with death along the narrow and busy A529 Audlem Road at peak drop-off and pick-up times.
The problems are caused by many parents having to park on the road when taking or collecting their children.
It ended a 14-year battle for an improvement and at the time, headteacher Ian Shackleton said he hoped the 43-space car park would be in place before the end of that school year.
Yet, more than two years on and the car park has still not materialised, leading furious parents to blame “bureaucracy”.
The first delay was over the old school house which had to be “gifted” by the diocese to the school. It was sold at auction in March 2014 to raise funds.
But Cheshire East Council says further delays were caused as the school still did not have enough money to buy the land and construct the car park.
One parent Helen Hewitt made this eye-opening video to highlight dangers parents walking their children to school face with cars, buses and lorries mounting narrow pavements.
She said: “The delay has basically been down to bureaucracy and funding.
“It’s quite disgusting considering the daily danger faced by the children.
“I’m concerned if it is not properly funded then the car park design might be compromised – a big concern as that could be as potentially dangerous as the traffic on the road situation.
“The council really should step in and help but they just turn a blind eye, pretend it’s not happening so they don’t have to take any action.”
Another Broad Lane mum added: “A hardcore parking area at the school surely wouldn’t cost that much!
“I know parents would help in any way – we certainly would – hopefully before a serious accident happens.”
Nantwich South and Stapeley councillors Peter Groves and Andrew Martin say they have been helping to resolve the issues relating to the terms of the lease.
Cllr Martin added: “We are fully supportive of the development of the car park for the benefit of the children and parents.”
A Cheshire East Council spokesman said a compromise agreement had now been reached with the school and land will be available in February.
He added: “As an academy, the school had to ensure funding was available for the construction of the car park before it could discuss terms with the council for the use of the land.
“The funding of the car park was to be met from the proceeds of the sale of the old school house. Following the sale of this property, the school began discussions with the council in June 2014.
“It became clear the school would not be in a position to buy the land and fund the car park and the parties considered alternative options.
“The school and the council agreed that a long lease could be granted, accepting a limited reduction in the amount payable and in November, once agreement in principle was reached, the council gave formal consideration to entering into the lease.”
Cheshire East say the lease deal was approved in December, and the land will be available to the school from February 1.
“The school has told us it is continuing to work towards providing the car park,” he added.
“It has appointed a contractor and hopes work will begin soon. Parents will be updated before the end of the month.”
Please consider these issues when parking. This may mean parking a little further away from the school. In all cases please ensure that you obey the following which form rule 243 of the Highway Code:-
DO NOT STOP OR PARK;
Near a school entrance where you could obstruct traffic.
Anywhere you would prevent access for emergency services
At or near a bus stop.
Where a kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users
In front of an entrance to a property.
Where you would obstruct cyclists/pushchairs
As this School’s age pre dates common use of cars THINK!
So sad to see this has still not been resolved, but we are talking Cheshire East Council here! I see no improvements in Nantwich, just more land earmarked and approved for housing which will dramatically saturate the area which already has a dire logistical infrastructure and will only add to this problem.
My two children used to attend this school and it’s a nightmare I no longer face. It was a horrendous daily stress. I would have walked my children to school if I could, but I had to drop them off everyday en route to work. I really do feel sorry for the parents who suffer this daily plight and pray that no person gets injured because of irresponsible driving but more so because of the council’s bureaucratic red tape and complacency to act where it is needed. Shame on you Cheshire East, just fund it!
The parents have every right to be angry but what about the other road users? We live not far away and during school terms I always take the longer route round First Dig Lane and past Stapeley Water Gardens (as was) because of the problems of getting past parked cars, even during the daytime between start and finish at the school. The lorry drivers and bus drivers do not have this option. Until the car park is finished AND YELLOW LINES painted on the road, how about the council designating the A529 as one way during school terms (tongue-in-cheek – but what other sensible options are there?).
Having seen the video which was made in September 2012 I would question just why has the matter not been resolved?!!
The cars and buses were actually driving along the pathway!!!
Is it safe to say parents are parking on one side of the road close to the school and causing this congestion themselves. Can they not park further away, and walk to the school more safely if everyone kept the area clear.
It is not rocket science, and until a safe car park is built you will just have to get up ten minutes earlier. After all it is an accident waiting to happen!!
Disgusting seeing that video, the bus was on the pavement. If I had a child there I would be at the school gate at 3pm to collect the child before the rush, and arrive after 9am after the rush in the morning. If parents did this the car park would be ready within the week!!
‘get up 10 minutes earlier’ Arthur?!!! That has made me pretty angry, I must say! We’re outside the school at 8am to avoid the dicing with death walk picking our way through mudbaths past articulated lorries, double decker buses and tractors the size of houses. It is ridiculous to state that parents are causing the problem themselves by parking too close – people park and walk from halfway to Audlem one way and halfway to Stapeley the other – and there’s no proper pavements to speak of if you’ve toddlers, babes-in-arms and double buggies in tow. Get a grip.
Driving along a pathway is illegal.
Parked vehicles on such a long length is causing the obstruction
So just what is actually causing a problem then if the parked cars and the driving over pavements is not the problem?!!
My friends grandchildren go to this school. The family asked if they could park on a residents drive whilst the children are escorted safely to school, there might well be others wanting to help out until the matter is resolved.
I wonder if councillors children & grand children had been the ones put at risk?
Human nature being what it is it would have been raised so many times in the council minutes and newspapers that it would have been sorted long ago.
Those in authority hate having to deal with constant criticism of this type.