Criminal cash to fund Penkhull school safety project

POLICE are hoping to fund a new parking scheme outside schools – using money seized from criminals.

A police officer in Penkhull has applied for funding to set up a 'cone head' initiative outside The Willows Primary School and Thistley Hough High School in the area.

The scheme will see cones put outside the school gates at key times to prevent motorists parking in restricted areas – potentially putting pupils' safety at risk,

PC Barry Joynson has applied for £300 from the proceeds of crime act to cover both schools.

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He said: "When we seize assets from criminals it goes into the proceeds of crime funding and gets spent back out in the community.

"We are trying to introduce this initiative in schools but the issue always comes down to funding.

"The cones that are put out help to reinforce the current parking restrictions and remind drivers to be extra vigilant."

The submission has now gone in to police chiefs who will decide whether to hand out cash to keep children safe.

Mr Joynson added: "In the past schools have held competitions for pupils to draw their faces and attach them to the cones.

"That way when they look down the line of cones they see a line of children and it reinforces the message of not parking in those areas."

Headteachers at both schools have supported the parking scheme and believe it will make a big difference to school life.

Holly Hartley, acting headteacher of Thistley Hough, said: "The scheme aims to improve parking around the school, particularly at the end of the day.

"At the moment there is a significant amount of congestion along Thistley Hough's adjacent roads and I have been concerned for some time about pupil safety."

The school has worked closely with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Highways Department to try and improve safety around the site.

Mrs Hartley added: "Our new pupil-led scheme will complement this work and will hopefully further discourage dangerous parking.

"Although we understand that parents need to collect their children from school, at the moment people don't always park sensibly and could be more conscious of our concerns for absolute safety."

Sarah Thursfield, headteacher of The Willows Primary School, added: "Although we are lucky to have drop off facilities within the school grounds, sometimes cars can be parked for lengthy periods which can cause problems, leading to congestion.

"We have received some complaints from local residents and, of course, we are concerned about the safety of our pupils.

"That is why we are eager to work with PC Barry Joynson and Thistley Hough to establish a joint project that has been successfully piloted in other areas."