PRIMARY school pupils are campaigning to rid their road of parked cars to ensure they can arrive at and leave school safely.

Cars park all day on both sides of the cul de sac near Knutsford town centre where Egerton Primary School is situated.

There is a turning circle at the end of the road near the school entrance, but the turning area is also regularly full of parked cars.

The narrow Bexton Road cul de sac is barely wide enough for a car to pass between the parked cars, some of which park on the pavements, and vehicles reverse in the school entrance to turn.

There have been a number of near misses, and an ambulance was unable to access the older people’s assisted living complex opposite.

More than 60 parents park at the nearby Booths supermarket car park when dropping and collecting their children under a scheme initiated by headteacher Alison Hooper.

However the parking problems persist, and pupils are now hoping banner headlines will persuade people to leave their cars elsewhere.

The school council conducted a survey of parents after Christmas, and three-quarters felt the parking created major safety risks.

They also support the parking disc scheme operated by Booths, under which parents pay £20 a year to park in term time for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 in the afternoon.

Following the survey the school council organised a competition for pupils to design a banner to highlight the continuing problem.

Year 6 pupil Daniella Webb won the competition, and her banner outside the school states – ‘Do not park here or your child’s safety will be in danger’.

Alison said the campaign by the pupils had improved the parking situation, but there were still people who worked in Knutsford and parked along the road.

“Just before Christmas an ambulance could not get access to Abbeyfields opposite because someone had parked across the entrance,” she said.

“The situation is at its most dangerous when cars are manoeuvring. By the time parents arrive in the morning it’s already congested, and parents are reversing in the school entrance.

“How we’ve not had an accident is beyond me, and four vehicles almost came together just before Christmas.

“I have continually written to parents over the years about the parking, and the situation has improved. We are hoping the banner will improve things even further.

“The school is hugely appreciative of the number of parents who recognise the importance of the safety of the children and how brilliant the parking scheme at Booths is.

“The scheme is aimed at keeping children safe and keeping the cars off the roads, and we hope the banner will persuade those people who park in the cul de sac to park elsewhere.”