“Residents of Turner Street in Northwood Welcome New School Run Parking Restrictions to Improve Safety and Ease Traffic”

In Northwood, Stoke, Turner Street has become a hotspot for traffic congestion, particularly during school pick-up times, leading to safety concerns among local residents.

Parents picking up or dropping off their children have made the road chaotic, with complaints of drivers speeding and careless parking.

The situation reached a tipping point when residents and teachers alike described the area as a “car crash waiting to happen.”

New Restrictions Introduced to Improve Safety and Parking

In response to growing concerns, the Stoke-on-Trent City Council has introduced new restrictions on Turner Street and surrounding roads.

Parents who drop off or pick up children from Co-op Academy Grove are now banned from parking on Turner Street between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and again from 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. during school term times.

The area has now been designated as a “School Street,” a part of a broader initiative to address school-related traffic congestion.

Residents Hope for Easier Parking and Safer Streets

The new initiative is expected to improve the situation for local residents, many of whom have struggled with parking issues due to teachers and parents using the streets.

Billy Swift, an 82-year-old resident of Turner Street, expressed his support for the move, saying that it will make the area safer for children and alleviate the difficulty of parking outside his home. “Parking is terrible.

You can’t get in and out, and teachers park here all day,” he said.

Long-Standing Parking Problems for Local Residents

For many residents, the situation has been frustrating for years.

Maureen Oakley, 81, shared her experiences of not being able to park in front of her house due to the school run.

“If we have to go to the doctors or the hospital, we can’t get in front of our house when the school is letting out,” she explained.

She also noted how parents park on the pavement and speed through the area, creating hazards for children.

New Rules Spark Concern in Surrounding Streets

While the initiative has been met with support from some residents, others are worried about the consequences for nearby streets.

Pamela Peach, a resident of Rawlins Street, voiced concerns that the problem might just be shifted to surrounding areas.

The surrounding streets will suffer.

It will just move the problem elsewhere,” she said.

Ten Streets Transformed into School Streets to Ease Traffic Congestion

The School Streets initiative is part of a larger effort by the City Council to reduce traffic congestion around schools and create safer, more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly zones.

A total of 10 streets in the area will be affected, including Turner Street, Avoca Street, and Myatt Street.

The initiative aims to improve air quality and safety at school gates, benefiting not just students but the wider community.

School Support for the New Measures

Co-op Academy Grove, which is located on Turner Street, has been working closely with the City Council for years to address the dangerous parking and congestion surrounding the school.

Headteacher Shirley Carrigan welcomed the new initiative, stating that the streets around the school have been hazardous for students and families due to the high volume of parked cars.

“The streets surrounding Co-op Academy Grove are very congested at drop-off and collection times, causing real hazards for anyone crossing the roads,” she said.

Moving Forward with the School Streets Initiative

The School Streets project follows a public consultation that concluded nearly a year ago, and the changes are expected to bring long-term benefits.

The City Council hopes that the initiative will create a safer environment for families and reduce traffic congestion in the area.

With continued support from the school and residents, the plan to improve local streets is now in action, and the hope is that it will make the area safer for everyone.