A five-day campaign has been launched to raise awareness of traffic congestion outside schools in the Swindon area.

‘No Peak Week’ is running in Purton from Apr 29 to May 3 and the initiative is designed to advise parents who pull up outside schools to drop their children off in a designated car park around the village.

Staff and volunteers from Purton Parish Council, Bradon Forest School, St Mary’s School and Wiltshire Police will be based outside the schools and car parks, thanking parents and directing them.

Several complaints have been made by residents who have been unable to access their properties or driveways, due to the road being blocked, including a disabled man who relies on driving but had to wait to get his car out. 

Police Community Support Officer Mo Beasley said: “We’re using the campaign to educate parents, there is lots of dropping off still but it’s not as busy as it normally is.

“It’s a never-ending story resolving parking issues, so it’s great to come up with something different.”

Swindon Advertiser:

Last year a pupil was nearly hit by a car and there have been problems getting buses through to drop children off. 

Mo said they are hoping to build planters on wide pavements, so people are unable mount the kerb and they have contacted Wiltshire Council about reinstating a lollipop person to help control the flow of the traffic.

Councillor Tamara Reay, the cabinet member for transport, said: “We will shortly be sharing plans with schools in Wiltshire to redouble our efforts to make it easier and safer for children to walk and cycle to school.

“These plans include increasing our engagement with schools to help them develop travel plans that promote walking and cycling as safe and healthy ways to get to school - and which include measures to address any specific safety concerns.

"Where appropriate these may include physical crossings and other measures to reduce speed, as well as helping coordinate the enforcement of traffic laws around schools.

“Subject to a school and its local community being in favour, we intend to trial a number of ‘School Streets’ by limiting vehicle access to the street(s) directly outside the school during specific times; typically morning drop-off and afternoon pick up times.

“Road safety is a priority for the council and we will be increasing our road safety education programmes in schools to teach children about safe walking and cycling practices.”