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Wolverhampton pupils help clamp down on problem parking

Pupils have been clamping down on drivers who park dangerously outside their school by handing out warning tickets.

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PC Stewart Sterling with East Park students Grace Hartill and Parish Chambers

And the tickets handed out by the youngsters can even lead to real fines.

Students and staff at East Park Academy in Wolverhampton are working with the police to stop motorists parking on double yellow lines and the zig-zag markings outside the school in Hollington Road.

They have proved such a successful deterrent to problem parking that residents in nearby roads have asked for their help in stamping out more irresponsible parking.

A team of Year 5 and 6 pupils have been trained by police as part of the West Midlands Police Safety Outside Schools scheme.

They can issue warning tickets, take down car registration numbers and record evidence of illegal parking.

If a driver persists and gets two school warning tickets a police officer will go to the car owner’s address and warn the driver if they are caught again it will lead to an official parking fine – and even points on their licence.

East Park Academy headteacher Hayley Guest said; “We have started the new school term as we mean to go on – encouraging road safety outside our school gates.

"This means our children are working with the police on this brilliant scheme.

"It teaches pupils about road safety and prevents selfish drivers from parking where they shouldn’t.”

PC Stewart Sterling, who works with pupils on the scheme, added: “This is all about educating drivers not to park outside school gates.

"We’ve had a very positive response from motorists around here and the children take their role very seriously.

“I’ve only had to make one visit after several warning tickets were ignored.

"In fact the students are doing such a good job that residents in nearby roads have asked if they can go along and hand out tickets to illegally parked cars.”