Concerned mum urges parents: 'Don't park on the yellow lines' (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Concerned mum urges parents: 'Don't park on the yellow lines'

1:00pm Sunday 29th January 2012 in News By Emily Roberts

Concerned mum urges parents: 'Don't park on the yellow lines'

A MOTHER fears another child could be killed on a road outside a Basingstoke school because people keep parking on double yellow lines.

Di Moore is urging parents of pupils at Costello Technology College not to wait for their children on the double yellow lines in London Road.

In February last year, 14-year-old Louise Eames, from Popley, suffered fatal injuries after she was involved in a collision with a car while crossing the road on her way to school.

Although the accident was not due to cars being parked on the double yellow lines, Mrs Moore said another accident could happen in the same spot because parents are ignoring the lines and continue to park there to drop off, and collect, their children.

The mother-of-three, from Chopin Road, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, said her 15-year-old daughter Katie McGreggor-Moore was in the same year as Louise at school.

She added: “She’s been deeply affected by what happened. Every day, there are cars parked on the double yellow lines, waiting for their children. But children trying to cross the road can’t see past the cars.

“I shout out of the window to the parents about the lines. It’s so frustrating because it’s another accident waiting to happen.

“My daughter crosses there twice a day and I’m worried for her safety and everyone else’s. Some parents think it’s quick and easier to park there, but children have to cross and there’s no zebra crossing.

“Louise’s accident was a tragedy and no one was to blame, but if it can be prevented from happening again then we should do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t.”

Julia Mortimore, headteacher at the school, in Crossborough Hill, said people parking on double yellow lines is a “long-standing problem.”

She added: “It does concern us. We remind parents about it in every newsletter but a number of parents ignore the signs.

“In terms of road safety, it’s something we have battled with long and hard. We have asked for traffic flow to be looked at, particularly following the loss of Louise last year.

“It’s an ongoing concern and we constantly raise awareness for people not to park on the yellow lines in Crossborough Hill and London Road. The lines have always been there but were extended a while back.

“My staff are on duty every day and are often occupied with controlling traffic rather than dealing with students. There’s complete traffic congestion.

“All we can do is reiterate what we have already said and encourage car-sharing to reduce the traffic congestion. We are not in a position to prevent access, which is something we have looked at before, but it would increase the problem on London Road.”