CONCERN has been raised about the number of parents from Forest and Sandridge School using Snarlton Lane as a drop off/pick up point for the school.
According to a Snarlton Lane resident, parents are parking in the lane, using private driveways to turn, and are using the end of the lane as a “car park”.
They have also raised concern about the speed of some drivers and have said that it is “an accident waiting to happen”.
“On one particular day, about six or eight weeks back I counted 20 plus cars parked in the lane,” said a Snarlton Lane resident in a letter to Melksham Town Council. “The speed of some, and the fact that they are using people’s driveways to turn in, and I have recently noticed some are using the turning area at the end of the lane as a car park. I really think this needs to be stopped, as I see it, it is an accident waiting to happen.”
In response to the concerns, the town council will contact the school to suggest working together to raise awareness of the concerns with parents.
At a town council meeting last week, cllr Hayley Illman, who is also a parent of a Forest and Sandridge School pupil said, “Interestingly we haven’t had any text messages or contact from the school asking us not to park down Snarlton Lane. So I feel that our first point of call is to contact the school – they are very good at communicating, and ensuring that parents and children are being safe.”
However, it was highlighted that Snarlton Lane’s parking issues extend beyond the behaviour of the school parents.
“Is the sole cause of this problem the school?” Probably no,” said cllr Jon Hubbard, who explained that residents parking on the lane due to a lack of off-road parking spaces, has always been an issue, long before the school was built.
A spokesperson from the school told Melksham News, “We want to be a cohesive part of our local community. Traffic surrounding schools is a challenge for all schools not just Forest and Sandridge. We’re open to working with local residents, council members, and our parents to find a suitable resolution to the issue. If there’s an issue with speeding, this is a safeguarding matter and we’ll inform the police to manage this accordingly.
“As a school we encourage parents to walk, cycle or scooter with their child, to and from school. We know this has positive benefits such physical and mental wellbeing. We’ll continue to promote this positive message and remind those who need a vehicle, to park with consideration for local residents.”
