Cartoon 'buddies' tackling school parking issues

11 hours ago

Kevin Hay

BBC News, Cornwall

Trenance Learning Academy head teacher Matt Williams says the signs have made an impact outside the school

BBC Trenance Learning Academy head teacher Matt Williams crouches down next to one of the yellow and black Parking Buddies signs. Matt is wearing a blue striped shirt and has a turquoise lanyard. A white bus is parked behind him. — Trenance Learning Academy head teacher Matt Williams says the signs have made an impact outside the school

A scheme in Cornwall is aiming to tackle congestion and safety issues during the school run.

Brightly coloured cartoon "Parking Buddies" signs have been placed outside primary schools in the county to stop motorists pulling up and stopping at the gates.

Cornwall Council said the signs had been loaned out to schools for either a term or until the end of the academic year as part of a trial in a bid to encourage "behavioural change" from drivers.

Matt Williams, head teacher at Trenance Learning Academy in Newquay - which is one of the schools piloting the project - said the signs had worked well for them.

Listen to the latest news for Cornwall

Mr Williams said mornings were usually very busy outside the school but the buddies had made it "a much safer place".

He added: "More pedestrians are using the crossing because they can see where traffic is coming from.

"Parents enjoy them, the children enjoy them and I enjoy them."

Cornwall Council has loaned the signs out to several schools in the county

A Parking Buddy sign. It is a cartoon child with brown hair holding a yellow and red 'no stopping' sign. The sign is on the road outside a school and a white bus and white van are behind the sign. — Cornwall Council has loaned the signs out to several schools in the county

Along with Trenance, the signs are currently outside Sandy Hill Academy in St Austell and Stithians Community Primary School.

The council said the signs had also been used previously at Lostwithiel School and St Mewan School.

Dan Rogerson, the council's cabinet member for transport, said the project had been able to reach multiple schools across the county.

The Lib Dem councillor said: "The cost implication is quite low and the lasting benefit that we have seen is that it really does effect driving behaviour."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].