School-Run Cars Risk Being Towed Away

School-run mums and dads have been warned that their cars will be towed away if they continue to cause parking chaos in Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope.

Police have been forced to take drastic action and remove offending vehicles because some drivers are failing to park sensibly in roads near the area’s schools.

Inspector Rachel Wood, the area police commander, said: “We have had to do this as a last resort because there is a real danger of serious accidents being caused. It may seem draconian but many drivers have simply refused to co-operate.

“Mums with pushchairs have to walk in the road because pavements are blocked by cars, drivers have also parked on zig-zag lines at pedestrian crossings and carelessly parked vehicles of all sizes have also blocked residents’ drives.

“On some occasions streets with cars parked on either side have been blocked by people leaving large vehicles in the middle of the road. Free and safer parking areas are available nearby but it seems that many people are not prepared to walk and insist on stopping as near as possible to the schools.

“The problems have been getting worse despite letters being sent out by some of the schools and police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) talking to certain drivers.”

The worst-affected areas are near St Joseph’s and Stanford schools in Stanford-le-Hope and Gable Hall, Abbots Hall and Giffards schools in Corringham. Insp Wood said that there had been many complaints from local residents, parents who walk their children to school and also from members of the local community forum. She said that in response to these concerns community policing teams will be using legislation under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 which targets motorists who fail to show consideration for others or cause “alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public.”

Drivers will be given a warning which lasts for 12 months. The warning also applies to the vehicle. So if another person drives the same vehicle and breaches the act then the vehicle can still be seized. If the driver or the vehicle commits another breach of the act then the vehicle can be seized and towed away by police. The fee to release the vehicle is £105 plus £12 per day storage.

Insp Wood added: “Officers will continue to respond in this manner until drivers get the message that their poor parking outside schools is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. It is just a matter of time until a child is seriously injured if they continue to be bloody-minded and park inconsiderately."