Police vow to patrol at Shifnal Primary School

Police are to increase patrols around a Shropshire school after furious parents claimed irresponsible drivers were mounting pavements, forcing children to jump out of the way of oncoming cars.

Parents say that Shifnal Primary School has been beset with traffic issues for months, claiming cars are driving along pavements lined with children at the start and end of school days.

Now Shropshire Council bosses say they will put up new bollards and signs to stop careless drivers as well as beef up police presence in the area.

Shifnal town councillor, Kevin Turley, said the work needed to be done before someone got seriously hurt.

He said: "There is a problem nearly every day on Curriers Lane and Barn Road at 3pm.

"There is little respect for other cars, children or anything else.

"People show no common sense or knowledge of the highway code as they park to close to junctions, on solid white lines and some times on the yellow zig-zag.

"Shropshire Council came out and looked at the area two weeks ago because of complaints from parents. It's an accident waiting to happen."

Alice Dilly, principal engineer for road safety at Shropshire Council, said extra resources would be allocated to the area.

She said: "Five additional bollards are to be installed on the footway at the Curriers Lane/Barn Lane junction to prevent parking and obstruction issues that are a significant problem.

"Signage is also to be erected to request "no parking" similar to those used successfully outside St Andrews Primary School in Shifnal.

"The situation will be monitored and West Mercia Police committed to have an increased presence at the start and end of the school day to help reinforce these measures.

"If these measures are not successful then mandatory waiting restrictions may have to be considered."