“It shouldn’t take a child fatality to happen": Former Luton mayor calls for action over school parking issues

A draft parking strategy 2024 to 2030 for Luton aims to reduce dependence on cars, promote active and sustainable travel, improve health, reduce air pollution and support the town’s business needs.

The proposed policies will shape, manage and deliver the council’s vision for parking during the next seven years, according to a report to its overview and scrutiny board.

A mid-term review of the strategy is planned after the park and ride site at Butterfield is operational, said the report.

LBC’s strategic policy adviser, Keith Dove, said: “Four priorities were identified within the document, encouraging sustainable travel, improving road safety, promoting fair access to parking and maintaining economic growth.

“It also inquired about how we improve management of the current controlled parking zones, such as limiting the number of permits issued, as well as reviewing and possibly expanding these areas.

“Improved infrastructure was mentioned with better signing and marking individual parking bays, while considering red routes and cameras to further control parking in problematic areas.

“The parking squad hits the hot spots where we don’t have camera enforcement, and are deployed daily in Vauxhall Park, Bury Park and the Luton and Dunstable Hospital area. We’re looking to take a more intelligence-led enforcement process.

“Other measures for areas with a high level of problems include better enforcement of restrictions, while there are issues about the areas around London Luton Airport, parking outside schools and concerns about residential streets with controlled zones.”

Teacher and Labour Central councillor Mohammed Yaqub Hanif said: “We need school leaders to get on our side to help us.

“A primary place is allocated close to where you live. Plenty of parents can walk to the schools their children attend. If it’s on your way to work, that’s not an excuse.

“It shouldn’t take a child fatality to happen. We need to work with officers and with our communities to eradicate this.”

Labour Saints councillor Ghulam Abbas said a school is in ward had its lollipop man run over, breaking his ankle, when a vehicle hit him.

“We’ve tried to educate people to stop using their cars, but it’s a very difficult challenge. Plenty of people drop their children off on their way to work.

“If you have an enforcement officer there, it keeps the school clear and pushes the problem further down the road. I’d welcome an idea about how we get people out of their cars. It would be a money-spinner.”

LBC’s road safety and transportation manager Mark Barnett replied: “It’s difficult to have a camera outside every location, so we rotate them a little.

“We provide road safety information for children and encourage them to get their parents walking or cycling. The schools could take a little more responsibility. it’s about a joint partnership.”

LBC’s head of neighbourhood delivery Tony Stefano added: “School parking is a challenge everywhere. We can’t use cameras near all schools. We’re limited and restricted on how we can do it.”