St Teresa's Primary School installing "pencil" bollards

A Horfield primary school is investigating installing 'pencil' bollards in a bid to end the dangerous parking seen every day at drop-off and pick-up times.

St Teresa's Primary in Luckington Road has had problems for many years with drivers mounting the pavement, driving on the pavement and also blocking then driveways of local people.

Now head teacher Sam Land has had discussions with local councillor Claire Hiscott (Horfield) and a bid is being made for funding the bollards.

Mrs Land said: " "I live in fear each day of a child potentially being seriously injured or killed as the road outside school, some parents have a total disregard for this.  On a daily basis I witness parents parking on yellow zig-zags, mounting the pavement and driving on it and on occasion road rage. We are desperately in need of help before something serious happens."

"We have supported the Walk to School scheme run by Living Street encouraging parents to park 5 minutes away and walk in, sent letters home to parents (from myself and from the children themselves), reminders in the weekly newsletter and stationed staff outside, requested a heightened attendance from our traffic warden and PCSO, but problems still persist."

Cllr Hiscott visited the school last month to see for herself the problems at drop-off time.

She said it was possible the school, with her support, the bid could be successful for money to pay for child-friendly bollards which would make mounting the kerb on the school side of Luckington Road.

She said: "This is a real problem for many primary schools and I saw all manner of dangerous driving when I visited, including motorists actually driving on the pavement.

"I am hopeful we can support St Teresa's in making a bid for funding for bollards to guarantee one side of the road being totally safe. The pencil bollards have been used outside other schools to good effect. We will know by the end of term if the bid is successful and I will push for installation over the summer holidays.”

Pupils at St Teresa's have also taken their own action with Year 6 pupils using a persuasive writing task to write letters to parents urging them to drive safely outside the school.

One said: "It is scary for all of us because you never know when something bad might happen."