Demands have been made for action to improve road safety near a Bradford primary school.

Cars parked on the pavement in Shetcliffe Lane mean parents using pushchairs are forced to walk in the road, which is used as a rat-run by motorists.

Parent Zoe Shears, 26, of Holme Wood, who takes her daughter Sinead to St John’s Church of England Primary School, Bierley, wants the authorities to do more to make the walk to school safer for pedestrians.

“Shetcliffe Lane is a rat-run for people avoiding Tong Street, and by doing that they are putting children’s lives at risk,” she said.

“Parking on there is ridiculous and cars have to take turns giving way. Residents living there have their cars parked on the pavement – on occasions where the lollipop lady stands.

“She takes her life in her hands to help children cross the road. She does a brilliant job. Sometimes she has to go knocking on people’s doors to ask them to move their cars.

“With a buggy you have to walk in the road. My daughter has nearly been hit two or three times by cars because they have to pull in close to the pavement.”

Elizabeth Lawley, head teacher of St John’s, said traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, road narrowing and bollards to deter illegal parking, had been introduced in the street but it remained “a difficult situation”.

She said: “If the Council widen the road, traffic will be faster, and by narrowing the road they have made parking problems for residents.”

Ward councillor Michael Johnson (Lab, Tong) said he will press Bradford Council to take further action.

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A