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"Don't Park Here" School Message for Drivers

Selfish school run motorists are to be told in no uncertain terms 'Don't Park Here' - as a drive to improve safety outside primaries gets ready to roll.

Finley Fyfe, 9, of P5 at Hillside Primary, has won a competition to design a banner, which will be used to discourage drivers from causing dangers to children by parking on zig-zag lines outside schools.

He picked up his prize of a bike - as will runners-up Rebekah Howard, 7 (P3), also of Hillside Primary, and Alexandra Clark 12 (P7), from Forthill Primary - on Thursday March 11.

Finley's distinctive slogan 'Don't Park Here' will feature on banners hanging in high-profile positions at primaries, as part of a scheme to tackle parking and dropping-off problems.

Cones will also be placed on the zig-zag lines to deter drivers, while parking attendants, police and travel active advisors will be involved to monitor the situation and also advise of sustainable travel options.

Pilot projects at Eastern and Park Place primaries have proved to be a success over the last year and the council agreed in January to expand the scheme across the city.

Dundee City Council education convener Cllr Liz Fordyce said: "This is a striking image that will really bring the message home for drivers.

"I would like to congratulate all the pupils who took part in the competition from our primaries, every entry was superb

"We all want children to be safe on the way to and from school. This is about asking families to keep their cars away from the school gates and think about other options."

Cllr Fordyce added: "It might be a better idea if pupils were dropped off at a different place and then they could walk the rest of the way. There are lots of travel options to consider and I hope that this campaign will make a positive impact on safety and sustainable travel.

"The Dundee Travel Active project is encouraging people to look at the way they get about on both health and sustainability issues. This safe parking campaign fits in perfectly with that."

Starting on Monday April 19, after the Easter holiday, the scheme will be implemented at the following schools:

Claypotts Castle Primary School

Craigiebarns Primary School

Rowantree Primary School

Barnhill Primary School

Forthill Primary School

Our Lady's Primary School

St Joseph's Primary School

St Mary's Primary School

St Ninian's Primary School

SS Peter and Paul Primary School

The scheme will be rolled-out to all primary schools in the city over the next year.

Inspector Bryan Knight, of Tayside Police's central division community safety unit, added: ''Tayside Police fully supports this initiative. We frequently receive complaints regarding irresponsible parking in and around schools throughout Dundee. The schools where this initiative has been piloted have seen a great improvement in this type of behaviour. This has been achieved by teachers, parents and pupils taking a very active part in promoting safer options thereby reducing the risks to young children when crossing the road or moving in and around the school gates as visibility for all road users is increased.

''The disappointing thing for us is that the people who are causing these issues around the schools are often the parents, friends or relatives of pupils at that school and are creating hazards for the children attending the school. A safer environment can be achieved around the schools by drivers considering their current actions and taking a few moments to think what they can do to reduce the congestion and parking issues around their school. ''

Entries to the competition can be seen at: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/leavethecar

Bikes for the three prizewinners have been supplied by The Bike Worx Dundee through Dundee Travel Active.

News Release Date: Thursday 11 March 2010