Newington Community Primary in Ramsgate is one of the first school in Thanet to join a nationwide scheme called Operation Safety Net within a bid to crack regarding dangerous driving and parking outside the site.
The multi-agency drive includes enforcement officers issuing fines to deter illegal and very dangerous parking within the school that may pose a threat to pupils.
Thanet Community Safety Partnerships Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Community Wardens will be the agencies with visited Newington CPS during the early morning school rush to gather first-hand information to backup the school’s growing concerns.
Emma Manning, the school’s attendance officer, said: “Poor parking can cause an absolute threat to the safety of our own pupils and others making use of the footpaths around the school.
“Concerns are already raised about vehicles illegally parking, being left on grass verges and paths forcing visitors to walk from the road, parking across people’s driveways, or congested zones brought on by the sheer quantity of traffic generated by poor traffic flow through illegal parking.
“Kent Fire Brigade is included in this project at Newington likewise because it is vital you will find enough road space without notice for fire engines or other large emergency vehicle to get safe road access responding for the style of make a call for help.
Head teacher Cliff Stokes said: “It is really a quite crucial community project and our school is satisfied to be the primary in the community to become involved.
“Safety beyond the school gates is something we check with all ages. As part of Operation Back-up you will have full school assemblies and sophistication assemblies to be sure our youngsters will be aware of tips on how to certainly be a safe pedestrian.
“Apart on the public safety aspect, it is helpful for people’s health if they parked safely slightly further away from the university throughout the busy traffic periods and truly walked.”
Thanet Community Safety Partnership officers Katherine Turner and Cara Radford have in addition visited Newington to witness the morning rush.
Katherine said: “Operation Safety Net is actually a nationwide campaign and we are taking a look at safety issues outside all schools in the neighborhood.
“We are particularly concerned that illegal and thoughtless parking can cause a real risk to children’s lives.”
Parking on school zig zag zones, double yellow lines and dropped kerbs are amongst the issues. In the week Katherine and Cara were presenting dummy black and yellow distinctive parking fine tickets to people about the school to boost understanding illegal parking outcomes.
Information gathered through the agencies are going to be collated to develop a graphic so that your specific needs of faculties could be acted upon.
‘Paramount’
Mr Stokes said: “Generally the behaviour of motorists visiting our school is very good. They notice the safety and indicators we set up, and so they very sensibly use our parking bays and designated go away points.
“Often it truly is drivers that are not component of our school community who barge over the busy roads outside of the school.
“Our safety crossing patrol Sasha Roberts does a striking job and then she is often vigilant to sense potential danger to the children because they cross the road from the gates and as they walk along side footpaths.
“School staff also patrol the area, and now we are accomplishing good to boost the safety message through the physical presence at key points in the day.
“The safety your children is the vital thing or any project to back up your own ongoing initiatives to protect them and their families en route from school is hugely welcomed.”
