Sandwell Council and Hall Green Primary School lead safer parking campaign
School children of Hall Green Primary School in West Bromwich are raising awareness and encouraging
responsible parking around their school, particularly at the start and end of the school day. Sandwell Council’s Road Safety team has delivered assemblies to pupils to make them aware of the concerns around the school area, such as parking on pavements. The pupils have created banners and signs which have been placed around the school area to encourage drivers to park responsibly and safely for the benefit of the community.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways, Councillor Danny Millard, said: “The safety and wellbeing of our children is one of our top priorities. I’m delighted to see that children at Hall Green Primary School have been learning about road safety and I hope the new signs will make people think twice about where they park outside the school.” Children are also being encouraged to ask their parents or carers to walk them to school or ‘Park & Stride’ to help keep the school gates free of traffic, and to help children practice vital road safety skills with their families on their journey to school. The children who created the winning banner and sign designs were rewarded with a certificate and road safety goodies at a celebration assembly. Their winning designs are now placed in prominent places around the school gates and lamp posts as a reminder to park safely and responsibly.
Hall Green Primary School head teacher, Alison Gilbert, said: “I am very proud of all the children who took part in this campaign, as well as our winners. Road safety, and particularly pupils being able to cross the roads around school safely, due to parking is something that our children and our families have been concerned about for some time. “I hope that the community will support our pupils by being mindful of this and parking away from the school. I want to thank Karen and the road safety team for their support with this campaign.” Sandwell’s Road Safety Team delivers a comprehensive road safety education service across the borough at more than 90 primary schools and works alongside West Midlands Fire Service to deliver educational packages in senior schools. The team is also a lead delivery partner in Black Country-wide campaigns such as For the One I Love at Sandwell College, Drive to Arrive aimed at pre-qualified drivers and Driving Safer for Longer for older drivers.