RESIDENTS living close to a primary school are warning children’s lives are at risk due to parking chaos at their housing complex.
Road rule changes at St Helen’s Primary School in Bishopbriggs has caused turmoil to unfold at nearby Palmer Court as motorists are swamping the estate with their cars.
Homeowners have faced angry encounters - including an alleged assault - with drivers regularly blocking access to the area off Wester Cleddens Road.
READ MORE: Boy, 10, struck by car on school run at Glasgow primary was 'accident waiting to happen'
And, the Glasgow Times understands an ambulance was unable to gain access to the estate last year due to the number of parents’ cars parked on Palmer Court.
Fresh parking measures imposed by East Dunbartonshire Council means that there is now a ‘no waiting zone’ on Wester Cleddens Road near the primary.
But the local authority has insisted it can’t include Palmer Court under the new rules.
This decision has been slammed by families who live in the estate.
One resident - who asked not to be named - claims to have been narrowly avoided being struck several times while walking to collect her daughter from another school.
She said: “The council is aware that these new measures will only make the situation worse and will risk lives. It is only a matter of time that a child will be hit by reckless drivers using the road as a school car park.
“However the council doesn’t seem to care about the safety of children.
“If it isn’t willing to include Palmer Court in the new restrictions, the road shouldn’t be adopted by the council. However, it seems it’s adopting this road as an unofficial car park for their local schools.”
East Dunbartonshire Council, has however, said that it does not have the power to restrict use of private parking spaces at Palmer Court - it lies within the hands of the homeowners and factors.
Thomas Glen, depute chief executive for place, neighbourhood and corporate assets, said: "The Council continues to work with schools in raising public awareness of the dangers for children of inconsiderate parking and inappropriate driver behaviour around schools.
"Our aim is always to encourage more families to walk and thereby reduce car numbers and traffic around schools. However, when parents choose to use their cars, they are advised to avoid parking on the zig-zags outside schools and to always park safely and considerately.
"The parking provision at Palmer Court is made up of a mixture of privately owned parking spaces and some public parking spaces.
"Unfortunately, the Council does not have powers to restrict the use of private spaces. This can only be done by the owners or their factor.
"Blocking access to a private space is an obstruction which is enforceable by Police Scotland and the Council continues to highlight the issues around Palmer Court to our colleagues in Police Scotland.
"Parking in a private space is classed as trespass and is a civil matter.
"The private ownership of many of the parking spaces at Palmer Court means it is not considered practical or proportionate to try to implement and manage restrictions within the limited public areas in the development at this time."
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