Prestonpans pupils help police tackle parking problems outside their school

On Tuesday, Prestonpans community police officer Fiona Cunningham was joined by PC Craig Purves and pupils from Preston Tower Primary School who are also the school’s junior road safety officers outside the school’s campus on Preston Road.

They were there as part of a new parking buddy initiative launched by East Lothian Police to help tackle the issue of some parents parking inconsiderately while dropping off or picking up their children from school.

Major issues have been highlighted both before and after school at both of Preston Tower’s campuses, on West Loan and Preston Road, with parking described as a “nightmare” and an “accident waiting to happen”.

Some parents are said to be parking on the yellow zigzag lines outside the school, on double yellow lines and at or near junctions.

Speeding and people not paying attention to the school crossing patrol warden were also highlighted as issues, while the warden has also reported incidents with parents after he has pointed out their dangerous parking.

There are concerns that a vehicle could hit and seriously injure a child if the situation is not tackled.

Following a large number of complaints, local police officers are now clamping down on the problems.

Six two-foot-high models (one of which is pictured below) were purchased by East Lothian Police – three male, two female and one female police officer. They will be named by the school pupils, with the officer named after PC Cunningham.

The models were placed outside the front of the school near the yellow zigzag lines, preventing parents who would usually park there from doing so and reminding them that parking there is not allowed.

And on Tuesday, both the officers and pupils were out spreading the message regarding inconsiderate parking, while the pupils also completed traffic surveys and conducted speed checks. This data, it is hoped, will be presented at an assembly.

Pupils also designed road safety leaflets and some were chosen by the junior road safety officers to be handed out to parents and members of the public next week.

PC Purves said the scheme was not trying to “catch people out” but was about educating drivers.

He said: “The more times we get them out, the more people will be aware of them and, hopefully, one day we won’t need them because people have taken the message in and been considerate. It is a scheme they did down south and it worked really well.”

He added: “I think the kids will be the ones more likely to educate their parents.

“If they have been in school and been told about a road safety campaign and not to speed, they will pass this information on to their parents.

“So the kids will be the ones to educate their parents as to what the dangers are.”

He added that other modes of transport to and from school could be used, such as walking or cycling, but if driving to school was necessary, dropping the child off five-10 minutes away and walking the rest of the journey should be considered.

The scheme is set to be rolled out at schools across the county, with people asked to contact their local community officer if they would like the parking buddies to visit their school.