East Riding councillors have backed calls for cameras to be used to issue fines to parents who drive up to school gates.
Councillors unanimously backed a motion brought to the council by the Labour Party’s Cllr David Nolan. Cllr Nolan, who represents the Hessle ward in the council, presented the motion at June’s full council meeting which asked the council’s cabinet to investigate installing automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras outside school gates, to automatically fine parents who drive up to the gates to drop off and collect their children.
Cllr Nolan explained that despite efforts from the council in recent years to tackle parents’ poor parking through the likes of signage, walking busses, and letters to parents “unfortunately there is still a minority who will insist on driving as close as possible to the school gates.
“I regard that as antisocial behaviour and selfish and they do it because they think they can get away with it.”
The notion notes that such cameras are already used at twelve school in North East Lincolnshire. The notion states that the funds raised from fines issued at the schools helps fund the cameras themselves. North East Lincolnshire Council are in fact planning to extend their scheme beyond the current twelve schools.
The motion calls upon the council’s cabinet to examine whether ANPR cameras should be used at the worst affected schools in the East Riding.
Cllr Victoria Aitken, the council’s cabinet member for children, families and education said: “The safety of children outside our school gates is a shared concern and a long standing challenge.”
Despite Cllr Aitken pointing out the “ongoing efforts already being made by our schools,” said stated: “I will support any initiative that helps address this issue whether that’s ANPR, better crossings, or community engagement. But I must stress that any potential proposal must come with funding. Our schools are already stretched and simply do not have the spare recourses to support or subsidise additional safety projects, no matter how worthwhile.
“So lets ensure any solution we pursue is not only effective but also fair and sustainable for our schools and our communities.”
As the motion was passed, the council’s cabinet will now look into ways to use or trial ANPR cameras around schools
By: Andrew Spence, LDRS
