A motion calling for all schools in the county to have individual traffic management plans will be discussed at an Essex County Council meeting on Tuesday, after angry scenes between parents and residents.And I expect the teachers and their unions will scream blue murder and declare that they didn’t join the profession to be parking wardens.
They didn’t join it to be fast food stoppers or uniform compliance officer either, and they have gleefully dived in, so here’s your pad of tickets, here’s a whistle to blow when an irate parent takes a swing at you…
Laindon Park councillor Mark Ellis and Wickford Crouch councillor Nigel Le Gresley believe Essex County Council should reinstate its school travel planning team, which was disbanded in 2012.
Mr Ellis said: “It is something we have in common across the whole borough and every school suffers from problems.
“We want a system where every councillor will be involved with each school and have a specific traffic management and travel policy which brings everything together.
“At the moment, all the various groups have different ideas to tackle the same problem.
“My background is in construction, where on every site you need a specific traffic management policy, but with schools at present there is nothing like that.”And there shouldn’t be.
Inconsiderate parking is an issue for your parking wardens or – in very serious cases of highway obstruction – the police.
Get them involved, dish out parking tickets, and eventually, even the thickest parents are going to get the message.
Oh come on, please be serious! How else are 21st century kids supposed to develop a proper sense of entitlement and grow up to become the most perfect little labour voters and demand benefits?
ReplyDeleteIt won't happen if the dear little things are not chauffeured to school.
Next you will be telling us that children should be doing their own homework!
The article mentions Thurrock Council whose spokesman was interviewed on the Beeb's "Today" a few weeks ago. I could hardly believe my ears when he breezily announced that they'd fit volunteer teachers with proper traffic warden uniforms, give them traffic warden training and the power to issue fines! James Naughtie positively spluttered when he asked if they were allowed to do that.
ReplyDeleteAny teacher who volunteers must be mad not least because they're encouraging HMG to insist that we all enforce the law (unpaid) on its behalf.
Jay
On a construction site almost all vehicles arriving there are driven by employees of the contractors, suppliers etc and so can be told exactly when they should be there, or else.
ReplyDeleteTry doing that with stroppy parents who think their convenience is more important than anyone else's inconvenience or safety.
"How else are 21st century kids supposed to develop a proper sense of entitlement and grow up to become the most perfect little labour voters and demand benefits?"
ReplyDeleteI thought that was what modern schools were for....but you're right, no reason they can get a pre-school start!
"James Naughtie positively spluttered when he asked if they were allowed to do that."
Oh boy! *stocks up on popcorn*
"Try doing that with stroppy parents..."
They should televise it! I'm sure Channel 5 would buy the rights...