Council Steve Hitchens with traffic warden show off the new plans

PARENTS in Islington who park outside schools when they pick up and drop off children are being “politely” told by parking wardens to move on – rather than be ticketed.
THE new ‘softly softly’ approach announced by Islington this week follows a campaign against overzealous parking wardens culminating in a critical Channel 4 television documentary by the Political Editor of the Spectator, Highbury resident Peter Oborne.
Lib Dem council leader Councillor Steve Hitchins revealed the new approach when he met parents and children at Highbury Quadrant Primary.
However, he explained, any driver who does not move on, or parks on school keep-clear markings may still receive a ticket.
Cllr Hitchins said: “It is in Islington children’s interests that their parents park safely and legally outside our schools.
“We are operating a firm but fair parking policy and we want to encourage parents to park safely.
“Our parking attendants have been instructed to move parents along rather than ticket them. We feel that any responsible parent will be willing to keep their child safe.”
Mr Oborne described the decision as “capitulation” by the council which was well overdue. His Channel 4 television documentary early this year exposed how Islington’s NCP wardens “ruthlessly” targeted parents outside the borough’s schools.
“The programme showed film of traffic wardens ticketing mums for stopping for a few moments to let their children out and Cllr Hitchins had the audacity to deny this was going on,” Mr Oborne said.
Tim Newark of the Local Freedom Party set up to campaign against draconian parking was delighted by the move. “ I suspect cllr Hitchins is bowing down to popular pressure but this is not official policy and could be changed,” he said.
Parking attendants issue on average 1.5 tickets each per hour approximately 10 per day, and on average move-on around 70 vehicles per day.
Forty Islington schools now have dedicated parking attendant patrols mornings and afternoons encouraging parents to park safely or move on
Last year four children were seriously injured on Islington roads.
But it isn’t just careless driving that causes accidents, dangerous parking can also be a contributing factor. This includes parking on yellow zigzag markings and double-parking around school gates.
Road safety education programmes are already in place throughout Islington schools. The parking safely initiative will complement this already successful programme.
Green travel plans are advocated by the council and there is much information on the council website for parents and schools that want to look at travel options that are better for the environment.