Safety fears as new primary school planned without drop-off point

Proposals for the two form-entry school in Fradley were unanimously approved by Lichfield District Council’s planning committee.

Hundreds of new homes are being built in the area and the new school will serve the families moving onto the site. The school is set to open in September 2022 and will be operated by the John Taylor Multi Academy Trust.

Plans put forward by the county council included the two-storey school, a multi-use games area, and car and cycle parking facilities for staff.

But there will be no designated area for cars collecting or dropping off children due to a Staffordshire County Council policy.

A report presented to the district council explained: “Four key motivations for this policy are provided; concerns (about) pupil safety in car parking areas/ laybys to the front of schools and the school’s duty of care towards its pupils; public liability implications and insurance demands; to encourage balanced and sustainable travel to school; the school site is not big enough to support a parental drop-off car park.

“Given the above arguments, it is considered that a drop-off facility is not required for this development. In fact to provide such would encourage vehicular traffic, thereby making the scheme contrary to the guidance of the Local Plan Strategy, Fradley Neighbourhood Plan and NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).”

Fradley and Streethay Parish Council called for a designated area to be provided to minimise disruption to neighbours.

The report from the parish council said: “Professional experience demonstrates that parents doing the school run have little regard for private driveways etc, and regularly park across such features, causing major frustration for occupants of nearby property. In its current form, this application would cause severe highway safety issues.”

Committee members also raised concerns about existing parking issues outside other schools in the area.

Councillor David Leytham said: “Staff have had to go out with no waiting signs to stop parents blocking the road. It does concern me we are going to have the same problem.

“Nobody cycles to school anymore they go in the car - or if its close enough they walk with parents. We have to have some creativity and acceptance of reality that parents take their children to school.

“The majority of parents don’t walk their children to school - they pop them in the car and drop them off outside. They don’t allow them to cycle or go unaccompanied.”

But Councillor Jamie Checkland said: “In relation to transport issues the school is starting right at the beginning. There is an opportunity to educate children from day one that the correct route to come to school is by foot or cycle.

“That said, parents are extremely selfish.”

Councillor Diane Evans said: “We know parking has always been a problem around schools.

“I welcome the opportunity of the walk to school policy. I think that’s really important.

“The majority of pupils are going to come from the immediate vicinity. Obviously the school does have a duty of care to the pupils coming to school and coming out. I think it has been adequately addressed.”