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Scottish Sun
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Scots school janitors ‘could be asked to issue fines to parents parking badly'
The local authority is currently looking at how road safety around schools can be improved PENALTY PLAN Scots school janitors 'could be asked to issue fines to parents parking badly' A SCOTS council has been asked to consider tasking school janitors with fining parents for poor parking. Concerns have been raised over hazardous manoeuvring and bad parking at drop-off and collection spots in the Falkirk area. 1 EYR368 Closeup of a UK parking ticket (penalty charge notice) Credit: Alamy The local authority is currently looking at how road safety around schools can be improved, after £200,000 for enhancements was agreed in this year's capital budget. An external consultant has now been tasked to inspect the issue. And feedback forms have been handed out to the council's 59 schools, as reported by The Falkirk Herald. The problem was discussed as part of the local authority's new road safety review and was also mentioned in talks surrounding new fines for parking on pavements and at dropped kerbs. During a meeting of Falkirk Council's executive this week, Tory group leader, Baillie James Kerr, suggested janitorial staff could be involved in issuing penalties when enforcement for pavement parking starts in August. He said: 'I know there would need to be discussions around job descriptions and with trade unions. But I'm sure if you asked every janitor in the local schools, they would like to help make it possible. 'I think it would only need to happen once or twice. If one of the janitors issues a ticket, it will stop. 'I know it's a long way off, but would you consider it after consultation with education and HR?' Engineering design manager Gary McGregor said he was 'not sure this was a route the council could go down'. But he agreed to raise the issue at the joint meeting between education and roads. Meet Supercar King Tom Hartley Junior - The Man Who's Selling the World's Most Exclusive Rides Councillor James Bundy asked if parents who were in their cars with the engine idling could be penalised under fresh powers. Officers said they are considering other options in a bid to crack down on the issue. Falkirk Council's engineering designers have also been involved at parking, visibility and access, and recommendations have been made for schools. SNP economic development spokesperson, Councillor Paul Garner, said the £200,000 budget would 'increase road safety around schools, hopefully, a great deal'.
Daily Record
02-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Falkirk school janitors 'could be asked to issue fines to parents parking badly'
Falkirk Council are looking at ways top tackle the problem of parking around schools, and one councillor has suggested janitors be asked to help issue fines for poor parking School janitors could be asked to help issue fines to parents parking badly when they pick their children up, a councillor has suggested. Dangerous parking at drop-off and pick-up times has been raised repeatedly with Falkirk Council's education service by concerned school staff, parents and local councillors and £200,000 for improvements was agreed in this year's capital budget to help tackle the problem. An external consultant was engaged to look at the problem in more detail and feedback forms were distributed to each of the council's 59 schools. The council's engineering designers have also been involved in looking at what parking is available and if there are problems with things such as visibility and access. A list of priorities has now been drawn up and recommendations made for schools, with both 'quick wins' and longer-term solutions being considered. At a meeting of Falkirk Council's executive this week, members heard that members of the engineering design team will also meet soon with education staff to look at actions that would improve the situation. The issue was discussed as part of the council's new road safety review, but was also raised in the discussion around new penalties for parking on pavements and at dropped kerbs. The Conservative group leader, Baillie James Kerr, asked if janitorial staff could be involved in issuing fines when enforcement for pavement parking starts in August. He said: "I know there would need to be discussions around job descriptions and with trade unions, but I'm sure if you asked every janitor in the local schools, they would like to help make it possible. "I think it would only need to happen once or twice - if one of the janitors issues a ticket, it will stop. "I know it's a long way off but would you consider it after consultation with education and HR?" Engineering design manager Gary McGregor said he was "not sure this was a route the council could go down" as there are many issues involved but he agreed to raise the issue at the joint meeting between education and roads. Councillor James Bundy, asked if parents who were actually in their cars with the engine idling could be fined under the new powers. Officers said that while this would be enforceable they are currently looking at lots of other options that will hopefully help. SNP economic development spokesperson, Cllr Paul Garner, said the review, with a £200,000 budget would "increase road safety around schools, hopefully, a great deal".
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Fines for pavement parking will start in August, Falkirk councillors agree
The council is considering options for 21 of more than 2000 streets in the Falkirk area A national ban on parking on pavements and across dropped kerbs will be enforced in Falkirk through fines of £100, starting on Monday, August 18, councillors agreed today (Thursday). Members of Falkirk Council 's executive, across the political spectrum, agreed that the fines should be enforced in a bid to make it easier for people in wheelchairs, parents with prams and the visually impaired to get about. All Scottish councils were given the power to fine drivers for pavement parking, double parking and dropped kerb parking in December 2023, and Falkirk initially adopted a 'soft approach' to enforcement, issuing reminders rather than fines. The penalty charge of £100, discounted to £50 if paid within 14 days, has been set nationally for all local authorities. If payment is not made within 28 days, a Charge Certificate is issued to the vehicle owner, and the penalty will increased to £150. The legislation allows for local authorities to some areas exempt and all 2,366 streets in the Falkirk area were assessed for this purpose, with 21 streets now being considered for exemption or mitigations. Where there are exemptions, these will be clearly signed. Engineering design manager Gary McGregor said officers are still happy to look at requests for exemptions and he believed it would be "a moveable feast" as areas and streets will change in the years ahead. Two new members of staff will be recruited to the council's team of traffic wardens, taking the total to eight. The new roles will also allow the council to introduce a back shift, as most pavement parking occurs in the evenings at the end of the traditional working day. Introducing the report, SNP councillor Paul Garner said Falkirk had looked at the 16 other authorities that have already implemented the legislation and learned from that. He said: "This is something we've been pushing for for some time and I'm happy to see it now being implemented. "I think the approach is the right approach and hopefully residents will appreciate what we are trying to do." Several councillors said they are aware of areas where the new legislation will make parking much more difficult for residents and they were assured that the council will work with communities to find ways to mitigate the issues. Labour councillor Siobhan Paterson said that while most of her constituents welcome the change, she said it would make parking very difficult for some residents and asked if the council could look at creating extra car parks that could be used by residents. Mr McGregor said it was something that could be looked at as part of the parking strategy that is currently being devised by Falkirk Council. But he assured members that over the past few months they have seen a change in behaviour from people who have been warned, before any fines have been issued. Members agreed that clear communication with residents will be essential to the success of the scheme. Emergency vehicles and waste lorries will not be affected and delivery drivers will also be exempt, as long as deliveries take less than 20 minutes. Baillie James Kerr also welcomed the report although he added it was important to remember that in some cases "without people parking on the pavement our bin lorries and our emergency services", so he was glad to hear that consideration has been given to mitigations. Members heard that the income expected from the scheme was not yet clear, although Councillor Robert Spears said he hoped any income would go to "fixing potholes and repairing pavements". Independent councillor Laura Murtagh added her support but said that she hoped the council would not make any revenue at all as it will "just change behaviour". She said: "It's selfish, it's wrong, it's always been wrong - the legislation is there now and we should all be getting behind it."
