Desperate appeal to stop dangerous parking at Wigan primary school

A Wigan school has run a banner competition with its pupils to thwart a dangerous parking problem that plagues the area.
Molly and Mrs Baxendale with the winning bannerMolly and Mrs Baxendale with the winning banner
Molly and Mrs Baxendale with the winning banner

Marie Baxendale, headteacher at St Joseph’s RC Primary in Wrightington said that the school has "tried everything" to curb the inconsiderate parking, which is raising concerns for children’s safety.

Out of options, the school council approached Lancashire County Council to appeal for help with the parking issues - which are also affecting businesses close to the school grounds.

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"The competition came about because the parking outside our school is terrible," said Mrs Baxendale. "We have big yellow A boards telling people where they cannot park but parents are ignoring them.

The school has tried everything to curb dangerous parkingThe school has tried everything to curb dangerous parking
The school has tried everything to curb dangerous parking

"People are parking around corners and right at the edges so you are almost on the other side of the road before you can see what is coming.

"The White Lion pub has kindly let us use their car park for drop-offs and pick-ups but even then some people are not using the proper spaces in the car park - cars are just being left all over the place.

"We have also just introduced the park and stride, where parents can park at Derby House and walk across to the school, it is a five minute walk.

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"We have done so many things but nothing seems to be working."

The competition was launched before Christmas and was open to all pupils in the school.

School children were tasked with creating a design within a rectangular template and the winning entry was turned into a banner which is now hanging off the school gates.

A representative from Lancashire County Council visited the school to help devise a questionnaire to send home to parents to see what they thought would help to put a stop to the inconsiderate parking.

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"Every school has this problem," added Mrs Baxendale. "It’s a question of keeping everyone safe.

"This was just another approach to solving the problem and we hope it works."

The winner, a Year Five student called Molly, was announced when pupils returned following the Easter break,