Call for car-parking ban in and around schools

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a ban on car parking inside playgrounds and around the school gates.

The national pedestrian charity Living Streets wants vehicle exclusion zones around schools to encourage a safer environment for walking to school.

The charity said that over the past decade, the number of children who walk to school in the UK had dropped to 48 per cent, with 43 per cent being driven.

Tony Armstrong, chief executive of Living Streets, said: "We strongly believe an exclusion zone around schools is worthwhile for many reasons - it stops parents being stuck in congestion, but also reduces the potential for collisions around the school gates.

"We would really like to see schools and local councils promote more 'park and stride' schemes to give children the chance to get some much-needed fresh air and activity into their day while easing congestion around the school gates.

"This isn't about making life difficult for parents but creating a safe and pleasant environment around the school, while helping children lead more active lifestyles in the face of rising obesity levels.

"We need to take action now to make children more physically active, to prevent storing up health problems later in life."