School-run parents get lesson in safe parking from pupils

Youngsters at Westbourne School, in the Broomhill area of Sheffield, decided to take action after a parent contacted Sheffield Council to ask for help in improving the situation.

A competition was launched to design an eye-catching campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers of parking around the school and the posters which won the competition will now be permanently displayed outside the school gates.

The winning designers were eight-year-old Allyson Schroeder, of Ecclesall, and Klaus Wiemeyer, aged 10, who lives in Lodge Moor.

Allyson’s message was a direct plea: If You Care About Children’s Safety, Don’t Park Here.

For Klaus, the message was an equally effective: We Don’t Mind a Two Minute Walk. Do You?

The school said the intention of both posters, sponsored by the Friends of Westbourne parents group, is to ease congestion at the busiest times of day by persuading people to park a little further away from school, not only freeing up space but also encouraging pupils, especially the older ones, to walk a short distance.

School spokesman Angela Bywater said: “These posters are so colourful and have such a direct message that we have already been approached by other schools who all have a similar problem.

“It would be great if we could see the campaign spread throughout the city.”