Parents and guardians at Kurri Kurri High School are being urged to remember the road rules after several vehicles were booked for parking illegally in Stanford Street last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While the school side of Stanford Street is signposted for 45-degree reverse parking, there is no signage on the opposite side of the street - therefore vehicles must park parallel to the road in the direction of traffic.
This news came as a shock to grandmother Joan Lambert, who was one of the drivers to receive a parking infringement notice from a Cessnock City Council ranger last Wednesday afternoon.
"This is ridiculous; we've always parked like this," she said.
"I've reverse-parked on that block for six years and have never been booked."
Ms Lambert said she believes reverse-angle parking is much safer than parallel parking, and it allows for more vehicles to park on that side of the street.
She feels a warning, rather than a fine, would have been sufficient; and that she would appeal the infringement notice.
Council rangers conduct regular patrols in school zones around the Cessnock local government area.
"The road network around all schools are very busy traffic environments during the morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times," council's road safety officer Alison Shelton said. "To safeguard students it is imperative that compliance to the road rules is absolute."
Ms Lambert said she is greatly concerned about pedestrian safety at the school, particularly at the intersection of Stanford and Deakin Street.
Ms Shelton said council has worked extensively with Kurri Kurri High School to improve pedestrian safety, including footpath works on Deakin and Stanford Street in 2015-16.
"Council has raised the option of the installation of pedestrian facilities on Deakin Street, however this would have resulted in the removal of parking, subsequently this facility did not proceed," she said.
"Additionally council worked with the school to limit pedestrian exit onto Northcote Street to students using the bus. This collaboration saw the school undertake works on Deakin Street to improve the access and egress of students.
"Council will continue to work with Kurri Kurri High School to identify opportunities to improve pedestrian safety."
Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
