Parking zones could be brought in to stop ‘horrifying’ driving and parking around Stamford Hill schools
Parents and pupils from Holmleigh Primary School and Sir Thomas Abney Primary School bring a road safety deputation to Hackney Council, with Cllr Rosemary Sales. Picture: Maria Jefferis/ maria.jefferis@gmail.com - Credit: credit: Maria Jefferis
A petition handed to the council by children and parents from two Stamford Hill schools could mean parking zones are introduced to stamp out “extremely aggressive driving”.
The group protesed outside the town hall before the meeting. Picture: Maria Jefferis/ maria.jefferis@gmail.com - Credit: credit: Maria Jefferis
The document was handed in before Theresa Hendrickx addressed members during the full council meeting. As a horrified parent at Sir Thomas Abney primary school she witnesses on a daily basis people driving on the wrong side of the road, not stopping at a zebra crossing and parking at junctions.
As reported by the Gazette two months ago, hundreds of children from 12 schools use the zebra crossing at Bethune Road and Dunsmure Road, and two have been involved in accidents.
Theresa and ward councillor Rosemary Sales have already met with Hackney’s transport chief Cllr Feryal Demirci over the issue, but last night it was brought to the fore.
Backed by kids and parents from Sir Thomas Abney and Holmleigh primary schools, Theresa read out a statement from Larry Oyesile, whose son Julian, a year 6 pupil at Sir Thomas Abney, was knocked over last year in Dunsmure Parade.
Theresa Hendrickx addresses councillors during the meeting. Picture: Sam Gelder - Credit: Archant
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“He went to hospital and was seen in A+E,” he wrote. “I’d like to see controlled parking and possibly CCTV. They have to do something. The way people park and drive is reckless and there is no respect or consideration for pedestrians.”
Tory councillor Harvey Odze (Springfield) suggested better enforcement was the answer. Theresa pointed out in 14 years of living in the area she’s seen one ticket on a car despite seeing seven or eight every day parked illegally. She said the campaigners did want to see better enforcement, as well as physical measures to slow traffic.
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Lib Dem’s Cllr Abraham Jacobson (Cazenove) said: “Part of the problem is it’s an estate and there are phone apps telling people where to park for free. We need control parking zones. At the end of the day children are dicing with death.”
Cllr Demirci then announced that the process for bringing in parking zones (CPZs) was now underway.
“This area is seen as the free car park of east London,” she said. “I have received a petition that will trigger the controlled parking zone process.”
She said cameras monitoring traffic would be considered, and that Holmleigh could be included in the council’s School Streets initiative. That would mean the area around the Dunsmure Road school is closed to through traffic at pick up and drop off times.
