Traffic troubles driving residents round the bend

Residents living in the neighbourhood have accused parents who drop off and pick up their kids of parking on double yellow lines and blocking ‘Keep Clear’ signs.

Cars turning right into Carlinghow Hill often back up to the traffic lights at Batley Field Hill and are at a standstill from the bottom to the top of Centenary Way, leaving residents unable to get to work.

Julia Hamill, of Spring Lane, claims that motorists use her drive as a turning point. She said the issue – and resulting abuse from parents when confronted – this school year was worse than before.

Though the school have a member of staff outside the gates, they are not challenging illegal parking, she said.

Now Julia is calling for enforcement at peak times to ensure traffic flows and access to property is not restricted.

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: “We have worked extensively with the police and civil enforcement officers in this area in an attempt to manage the situation at this school and tried to engage, with limited success, the school and their parents to try to ease the problems.

“We visit the location frequently – as often as staffing allows – and there are other works proposed, including the installation of a new pedestrian crossing facility, that will be installed this financial year.

“All of this work is aimed at improving facilities for walking, to try to reduce the numbers of cars that arrive at this location daily.

“In the end, there has to be the will to change behaviour, and that relies on both the school, and the parents or carers who are bringing their children to school, to engage.

“We have worked tirelessly on helping the school plot where their pupils live and where there are five minute, 10 minute and 15 minute walking zones. We have explained and encouraged park and stride, extended parking restrictions and introduced no loading, but sadly here, no matter what the council tries to do, parents are unwilling to change their behaviour and insist on breaking the law.

“Whilst enforcement happens on a rolling programme and will continue to do so, neither the council nor the police have the resources to dedicate to this location every day of the school week.

“After numerous requests, the school has recently produced a school travel plan. Council officers will now support them to implement that plan, the ultimate aim of which will be to reduce congestion and bring about much needed improvements to driver behaviour and compliance when arriving to drop off or pick up their children.”