Father of Nest SEND unit pupil, at St Edmunds RC Primary, in Bury St Edmunds, raises road safety fears over Friars Lane resident parking plans

A parent has said plans for residents’ parking bays near a special needs unit would make an already ‘dangerous’ situation in the road even worse.

Chris Battle, 40, said the proposal for residents’ parking in Friars Lane, Bury St Edmunds, did not take account of the Nest SEND unit, which is accessed via the narrow lane.

There have been ongoing parking and traffic problems in the no-through road – an issue previously highlighted by a taxi company taking children to the unit, at St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School.

Bury resident Mr Battle, who has a son at the Nest, said he was ‘very’ concerned about Suffolk County Council’s plans for residents’ parking in Friars Lane, in particular proposals for a 35m-long bay near the entrance to the Nest, as well as an 18m-long bay in Westgate Street opposite the lane.

He said: “It’s just a really dangerous and not-thought-through situation as it is. This plan will make it worse.

“They need to relook at it and speak to the people who are using this road daily.”

Mr Battle, who transports his son to the unit himself, said taxis and parents’ cars queued at drop-off and pick-up times to access the unit and situations could arise – such as a broken down vehicle – which meant they were then stuck.

He also spoke of an incident last year when a child was having a seizure in a taxi, an ambulance was called and cars were trying to move but ‘had nowhere to go’.

And sometimes there could be challenges getting a child out of the vehicle and into the school, he said, which at times happened with his own son.

He would like to see an extension of the double yellow lines on both sides of the road so there could be free-flowing traffic. Then, if anything did happen, vehicles could get past. Or, if car doors were open, people on bikes and scooters and walkers could get through, he said.

“It’s not safe for the children, walkers, general members of the public currently,” he added.

While there is a sign on the gate to the Nest to say it is there, Mr Battle believes there also needs to be a sign at the top of the road to say there was a school there.

Maria Kemble, executive head of St Edmund’s RC Primary School, said it would be helpful to have a restriction on vehicle access during drop-off and pick-up times so taxis could get to the gate and deliver/collect pupils safely.

She said: “We recognise the difficulties with parking for local residences and as a member of the community want to work in partnership to make the locality as safe as possible for all who live and work here.

“As a school we are hopeful the council will take into account the needs of the pupils to be able to access the SEND unit.

“We hope it will ensure that the access to the entrance is maintained and that 'no parking' signs and double yellow lines opposite the gates will be put in place.

“At the moment it is often impossible to use the gates due to vehicles parked opposite.”

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Highways at the county council said the introduction of residential permit parking in Friars Lane was to allow residents of Zone D additional areas to park with their valid permit.

They added: “It is hoped this will encourage road users to find alternative areas to park, such as Westgate Street, where dual bays are to allow for non-residential permit holders.

“The double yellow lines in Friars Lane will remain, blue badge holders can park with their badge clearly displayed. The restriction also allows setting down/picking up passengers, but not for parking.”

They said the proposed additional bays in Westgate Street opposite Friars Lane had been assessed and would be positioned safely and not encroach the junction of Friars Lane.

“Access to the SEND school will not be prohibited, however motorists must be considerate when leaving their vehicles unattended in a restricted area,” they added.

The plans include new double yellow lines (15m in length) to prevent vehicles parking opposite the entrance to the Nest, and new double yellow lines to prevent people parking opposite the new parking bays and at the southern end of the road.

The consultation on the proposed traffic regulation order (TRO) ended last week.