CALLS are being made for a school crossing patrol or a zebra crossing to be installed near Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary Schools over fears for the safety of pupils.
Several people have complained about safety issues at the school, the last parish council meeting heard.
Parish chairman Cllr Andy Mitchell said: “At the last surgery it was brought up that it is quite a complex junction and it could be quite dangerous, obviously, at school times.”
Newly co-opted councillor Julian Robinson, who works at the school, explained there had been a problem with parents parking on the zigzag lines outside the school entrance. He added: “I had the police up and a letter was sent to parents that they would be fined if they were caught.
“It has sorted the problem out, but it is still a problem crossing the road. Ideally, a zebra crossing would be great.”
Cllr Sue Bainbridge suggested a school crossing patrol should be appointed to guide children across the road. Issues caused by parents dropping their children off at schools has also been highlighted by Durham Police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg in recent weeks.
He said: “Parents always want to put their children’s safety first and by being cautious and parking slightly further away from the school entrance, children can see clearly to cross the road.
“However, a number of schools have reported near misses where it was hard to see beyond parked cars but they are finding it hard to eradicate the problem.
“I will continue to work with road safety partners including local authorities on this issue.”
Middleton-in-Teesdale parish councillors agreed unanimously to ask Durham County Council for a zebra crossing to be installed and a school crossing patrol appointed.
