School run parking is putting pupils at risk Town Talk


SNODLAND Church of England Pri- mary School is urging the parents of children who drive to school to use the car park at the community centre and the pedestrian crossing made for their use in Paddlesworth Road. There have been complaints for


years about parents dropping off their children at the school’s main entrance in Roberts Road. They block residents’ drives and obstruct the entrance to Pil- grim’s View care home. In 2004 the Snodland Partnership


paid for the pedestrian crossing and fencing and parents were asked to use the car park, the crossing and the gate into the school grounds. Deputy head teacher Holly Blount


said: “Parents and carers continue to park right outside the gate at the end of Roberts Road, despite the fact that we open Paddlesworth gate so they can use the community centre car park. “We have also received a letter from


the Kent Fire Service to say that it has been brought to their attention, from a concerned parent, that parking outside the school is a safety issue and that they will be carrying out a safety audit in the near future.” Drivers turn around in the school car


park and the entrance to the school, it is dangerous and she is worried that someone might be hurt in an accident. Warning notices have been placed on the school gates.


Jane Wiltshire, manager of Pilgrim’s


View, said: “It is the safety of children that concerns me. We have restricted access at our home and we ask drivers to move they get abusive. It is awful.” Scott and Lucy King of Charles Close


walk to the school with their son. Scott said: “There is no need for


them to drive to the front when there is the car park at the community centre.” “The school should shut both the en- trance gates for a couple of weeks so they cannot get in and will have to drive to the car park. It is just laziness. “It is a horrible thing to say but until


the day someone gets run over, noth- ing will happen.” Charlie Grayhurst, chairman of the Snodland Partnership, remembers the partnership became involved under the “safer routes to school” scheme. He said the crossing, safety railings,


Local news for Snodland and Halling


A Downs Mail supplement produced in conjunction with the Snodland Chamber of Commerce.


Deputy head teacher Holly Blount (right), Nicole Chapman and young Snodland pupils with their no parking posters


footpath from the school to the gate in Paddlesworth Road and other related work cost £35,000 and he was con- cerned that is was not being used.


Parking out- side Snod- land primary school has raised con- cerns over road safety


Holly Hill beacon set to light up jubilee celebrations


THE beacon at Holly Hill, Snodland – of which many res- idents are unaware – will be lit to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. A full programme of events involving many clubs and groups in the town is being arranged, mostly between Saturday, June 2 and Tuesday, June 5. A dance will be held at the community centre on June


4 and outside will be an ideal viewing point to see the lighting of the beacon, which is expected to be at about 10.30pm. A 1950’s-style fete is planned to take place on the recreation ground on June 2 with stalls, craft displays, games, fancy dress and children’s races. There will be a civic service in All Saints Church on the Sunday morning, a picnic in the rectory garden in St Katherine’s Lane and a concert in Christ Church in the evening. The


Scouts are arranging a street party in the cricket meadow on Monday, 4. There will be a historical display in the library, a buffet


lunch and a treasure hunt. Snodland Choral Society is holding a concert on Mon-


day, May 21 and the town’s football clubs are combining to hold a five-a-side soccer tournament on the weekend of June 23 and 24. Residents are being encouraged to decorate their houses. A special 24-page full colour commemorative issue of Town Talk will be published and delivered to every home


during May. Anyone wishing to be involved is welcome to attend the next meet-


ing of the organisers on Friday, March 9, at the Moyeuvre-Grande Suite, Devonshire Rooms, Waghorn Road, at 7pm..


FREE FUNDED SESSIONS


Please feel free to arrange a visit to see the wonderful facilities we can offer.


St. Katherine’s Lane, Snodland ME6 5EJ www.stkatherineskent.co.uk


01634 240061


Meet our qualified and dedicated staff in a warm, caring and inviting environment, built and equipped specifically for nursery age children.


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