Call for clearer parking signs after parents get fined

Robert Edwards, whose six-year-old son attends Cold Ash St Mark’s Primary School, was parked outside the school just after 9am last Thursday.
He was issued a parking fine. However, Mr Edwards said that he took this photograph to prove he was not parked illegally.
He said: “Normally I don’t park there but other cars park beyond the zig-zags every day as there are no markings on the road.
“I would not dare park on the double yellow lines.”
Even though he was parked on the roadside, Mr Edwards was still issued with a £30 parking fine as the police officer on duty said that his car was causing an “unnecessary obstruction”.
Another car, parked directly in front of Mr Edward’s, was also given a ticket.
Mr Edwards said: “I just felt it’s unfair because, as far as I was aware, I had parked in a legal position.”
A letter had recently been issued to parents from the police explaining that there had been parking issues near the school and that parents parking outside could risk fines.
However, Mr Edwards said: “I don't see how they can say that without lines on the road.”
He said that he was not going to pay the fine and would be appealing.
He urged the school and the police to talk to parents and perhaps organise a meeting to talk about the problems.
He said: “I want to reach a sensible resolution. There needs to be further discussion with the school and the police. If there is no parking there, then there needs to be signage.
“There’s just confusion at the moment.”
Earlier in the year, a group of parents set up a group to try and improve road safety outside the school.
Their main concerns were speeding, congestion on the roads close to the school and cars mounting the pavement to get past the school-run traffic.
As a result of the campaign, several walking buses have now been set up to and from the school.