A child was nearly hit and a parent injured on a dangerous road outside a school, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements from local officials.
The road, Wigley Bush Lane, is super narrow. Cars often park on the pavement, making it hard for kids and parents to walk safely. In some spots, the pavement is only 61cm wide! Iain points out that the Disability Discrimination Act says pavements should be at least 120cm wide.
He’s worried because big trucks use this road as a shortcut, which is risky for kids. Cars have to back up and maneuver around, sometimes driving onto the pavement. Iain says he sees near misses every week. Just recently, a driver got out of their car to hug a child, thinking they had hit her.
About four months ago, Brentwood Council was criticized for not addressing these safety concerns. Iain was frustrated when the council rejected plans for a new car park that would help ease the parking issues. This would let parents park safely without walking along the narrow road.
The council had some conditions that made it hard for the car park to go ahead. Iain explained that a nearby sporting village was supposed to provide a free car park connected to the school. This would have been a great solution, but the council’s rules got in the way.
Now, a business owner named Charles Chambers is trying to resubmit the plans for the car park. Iain recently met with council representatives to discuss the situation. They agreed to see if Charles would resubmit the application.
Iain stressed how important this car park is for keeping kids safe. It would make drop-off and pick-up times much safer. Without it, he feels like they’re risking the lives of the children at his school. The council will decide on the plans soon.
