POLITICAL rivals have clashed over how to solve parking problems on a city estate after instances of 'parking rage' outside a school and fears over the safety of children.

Cllr Jill Desayrah is concerned about proposals to introduce a range of permanent and timed parking restrictions in Tetbury Drive in Warndon in Worcester.

The Labour city councillor argues such measures will just push parking problems somewhere else on the road and was lobbying for a zebra crossing instead and use of an active travel scheme.

However, Cllr Mike Rouse, the Conservative county council cabinet member for transport, says Cllr Desayrah and the Labour Party are trying to 'remove cars' from the road which would be 'devastating for hard-working parents' on the school run.  

Cllr Desayrah, a Labour councillor, said parked cars around the school cause congestion and reduce lines of sight. As previously reported, she organised a trial of the walking bus scheme last year with St Joseph's Roman Catholic and Cranham Primary School.

She told the Worcester News she had 'long been concerned about problems with parking rage and severe congestion on this narrow residential road' while residents have told her they worry an accident, 'possibly affecting a child, is only a matter of time'.

Cllr Desayrah said she requested a zebra crossing but had received 'a non-committal answer' from Worcestershire County Council while the parking proposals represented a different response.

Cllr Desayrah said: “These proposals make a start towards improving safety around the school, which is essential, but key issues remain.

"New restrictions around the school will give rise to displacement parking in surrounding streets and further up Tetbury Drive.

"The goal should be to remove rather than relocate parking problems. Implementing active travel policies would help. Trials of walking buses that I held last December had an encouraging degree of support from parents and children but a more distant meeting point would be proposed in future, completely relocating this nuisance traffic to an empty car park, thereby avoiding affecting local residents.

"As the lower end of the street becomes free from congestion, the opportunities for speeding will increase and it may become necessary to add more traffic calming measures to mitigate this risk.

"Many residents have reported speeding issues and a Community Speed Watch has been approved by West Mercia Police. Finding the required number of volunteers is a challenge but the plan remains in place, once those people have been found.

"Finally a zebra crossing is still needed, perhaps even more so now, in light of the unintended consequences of increased opportunities for speeding. I hope the county council will look again at my request in light of their current plans. Labour supports families who have to bring their children to school by car. But we want to find a better way."

RECOMMEDED READING: First Warndon walking bus to end school run 'parking rage'

RECOMMENDED READING: Tetbury Drive needs crossing for Cranham primary pupils

Cllr Mike Rouse, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: "By saying the goal is to remove parking problems and replace them with active travel options, Jill Desayrah and the Labour Party are proving that what they really want is to remove cars off the road in Worcester, especially during the school run.

"This would be devastating to hard-working parents who need to drop their kids off in the car so they can get to work on time. For these people it's a case of using the car or losing their job.

"Our approach is to improve safety for all road users without waging a war on any of them, including improving visibility splays.

"We listen carefully to consultation responses from locals as well as those who use the road regularly. We also liaise closely with county councillors as these are matters exclusive to the county council, which in this case means James Stanley not Jill Desayrah as she's not a county councillor."