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Fears over parking provisions at Brunswick House school in Maidstone

The parking situation at a Maidstone primary school could get worse after parents were told they may have to drop their children off elsewhere.

Brunswick House Primary School, in Leafy Lane, off London Road, successfully campaigned for a zebra crossing between its site and the London Road Retail Park due to the number of vehicles attempting tight manoeuvres and stopping on double yellow lines.

The retail park, which is home to Dunelm and Argos and was previously managed by Cushman and Wakefield, has for many years been used as a drop off point as safe parking spots in the area are hard to come by.

Pupils from a nearby secondary school add to the congestion outside Brunswick House at the end of the school day
Pupils from a nearby secondary school add to the congestion outside Brunswick House at the end of the school day

However, the site has now been bought by Bilfinger GVA and a similar arrangement has not been agreed.

In a letter from the school this week a spokesman for Bilfinger GVA said: “While we appreciate dropping off and collecting can be very difficult and in some cases dangerous, particularly in built up areas, we would like to remind visitors the car park is for shoppers only.

"We will be issuing manned enforcement and if it is clear vehicles are entering for the sole purpose of collecting and dropping off children irreversible fines will be issued.

Brunswick House head teacher Wendy Skinner has previously taken action over motorists parking on pavements
Brunswick House head teacher Wendy Skinner has previously taken action over motorists parking on pavements

“We actively encourage members of the public to use facilities provided on our site and if visiting the stores coincides with the timings children are dropped off or collected, then no issues will arise.

“Vehicles parked in our car park for the purpose of using our occupiers’ stores will be entitled to three hours free parking.”

Samantha Barnett, deputy head teacher, said negotiations were ongoing but the issue was not going to go away overnight.

However in a fresh letter to parents on Thursday evening, the school said it had been agreed parking enforcement will not be in place until after 9am, which could help parents, and will not commence this academic year.

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