Tandridge Neighbourhood officers and the local borough council have teamed up to start a new scheme to help parents make the journey to school safer and easier. The initiative was launched by the Tandridge Safer Neighbourhood team and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council Parking Enforcement team. This has led to a series of joint visits to schools in the Tandridge area after an increase in reported parking and safety concerns from the schools, local residents and parents.

The teams have already visited Whyteleafe School, Warlingham School, Marden Lodge School, Hamsey Green Primary School and Burstow Primary School in the Whyteleafe, Warlingham, Smallfield areas and further schools around Tandridge will be attended over the next few months. All the schools will receive follow up visits to make sure that concerns have been addressed and good practice maintained.

Drivers are reminded of the following measures which are already in place:

• Enforceable 'School Keep Clear' zones with zig zags either side where drivers should not stop, even to pick up or drop off children.

• Double and single yellow lines to keep the routes into and out of the schools free of obstructions for vehicles, pedestrians, School Crossing Patrols, Taxi ranks and bus stops.

• Disabled spaces for use only by relevant vehicles.

Drivers are also reminded not to park in an obstructive manner such as:

• On footpaths or verges.

• On pedestrian crossings or their white zig zag markings.

• In permit holder bays without a valid permit.

• Where they obstruct dropped kerbs or driveways.

• In dangerous positions such as at a junction or on a bend.

All of the above are enforceable by way of fixed penalty notices of between £30 and £100 where necessary.

Moira Cocks Tandridge Casualty Reduction Officer said: "It is hoped that by sharing local information and visiting school areas at relevant times, drivers will become better educated and more aware of the current parking regulations so that they park safely and legally. This should help reduce inconsiderate and dangerous parking and make the areas safer for all road users.”

For further information please visit the Drive SMART website

www.drivesmartsurrey.org.uk/media-and-publicity-campaigns/park-smart/