PLANS to phase out free parking permits for parents dropping young children at school have been condemned as unreasonable and unsafe by a group of mothers.
The permits, available at some primary and nursery schools, allow parents to park for up to 15 minutes near their child’s school to pick them up and drop them off.
The permits are being withdrawn by 20 per cent a year over the next five years, starting from September.
Caryn Berlingieri, from Camden Town, who has three children under nine, said: “Public transport in the area is woeful. I cannot believe that they really think that children of nursery and junior school age should travel alone. What about a school bus?”
Jasmine Lister, from Chester Terrace, added: “To use public transport, I would have to take all three of my children to my seven-year-old’s school in Belsize Park on the Tube, drop her off, walk the four-year-old and two-year-old to South Hampstead and then take the two-year-old further down to her playgroup. It is just gruesome.”
Tory councillor Andrew Mennear added: “My own personal view is that many councillors who approved the report did not realise that the measures affected nurseries and such young children.”
A spokeswoman for the Town Hall said that parents would still be able to drive their children to school but they would need to find a parking space themselves.
She added: “Our travel plan team is offering support and resources to schools to help them put in pIace initiatives such as car sharing, minibus transport and walking campaigns.”