Parents take action against dangerous parking at Hillhead Primary

Hillhead Primary School has one of the largest rolls in the city and sits in a congested corner surrounded by Glasgow University, Hillhead High School and shops and restaurants.

Since 2011, the school and parents have been striving to make the roads around the primary safer and cut traffic congestion.

Now, following the closure of Kelvin Way during the pandemic, parents have been parking dangerously along Kelvin Way and up University Avenue.

Yesterday, after calls from the parent council, a day of action was held to crack down on selfish parking and dangerous driving.

Police Scotland, Glasgow City Council’s parking wardens and parents from the parent council’s sustainable transport group were on site at drop off and pick up times.

Day of action against dodgy parking near Hillhead Primary School Picture: Colin Mearns

Parents said they support the closure of Kelvin Way and are adamant dangerous parking is not used as a reason to reopen Kelvinway to vehicular traffic.

Instead, they are calling on the council and Hillhead Primary to develop a solution to help those who need to drop children at the school/nursery.

Rhian Williams, chairwoman of Hillhead Primary Parent Council, said: “This school has one of the biggest roles in the city.

Day of action against dodgy parking near Hillhead Primary School Picture: Colin Mearns

It’s fantastic on this side, at Kelvingrove Park, but it’s extremely congested on the other side - there’s the student union, the sports club, housing and then the high school just nearby.

“In the mornings there can be 2000 people trying to get where they need to go.

“The road layout isn’t great either, with sharp corners.

“Gibson Street is on an incline so people will idle at the lights so it’s also a hotspot for air pollution, so it’s quite a knotty problem.

“There are plans to organise traffic flow around this area, such as at Woodland Road, but we want to ask the council that attention is paid to us here in the centre.

“We’ve had some quite frightening close shaves - with little people you can’t see them.”

Day of action against dodgy parking near Hillhead Primary School Picture: Colin Mearns

Parent council members have mooted several ideas to solve the issue, including allowing short stay parking in Kelvingrove Museum or Kelvin Bridge subway station for drop off and pick up.

Further along Otago Street there is a pedestrian crossing at the junction with Park Street outside Eusebi Deli and parents reports drivers running through red lights.

Parents have secured funding to work with an artist to create a mural of pupils' designs on the side of the school.

In order to tackle the issue of drivers running the red light, the parent council’s road safety group aims to secure funding to work with an artist for a similar project - develop pupils’ drawings to decorate the crossing and make it more visible.

Parent council chairwoman Rhian Williams with her daughter Nia, aged six Picture: Colin Mearns

Hillhead Primary was part of the School Car Free Zone pilot in August 2018, which restricts access to vehicles at Westbank Quadrant and Otago Street at times when families would be commuting to and from school.

Pupils are also encouraged to get involved with Junior Road Safety Officers promoting the School Road Safety Plan that identifies and encourages the school community to choose safe and sustainable ways to travel into school.

A parking pledge and leaflets designed by pupils to ask for consideration for others at drop off and pick up times have been handed out.

Head teacher Andrew Robson said the school also supported the continued closure of Kelvin Way under the Spaces For People programme.

Day of action against dodgy parking near Hillhead Primary School Picture: Colin Mearns

He said: “‘Hillhead Primary School and Kelvinpark Early Years serve a very large community of more than 500 families and since the campus opened in August of 2011 we have worked very hard to ensure safe travel for our children.

“We have always worked closely with our parents and carers to encourage safe and sustainable travel to and from our school and nursery.

“The School Car Free Zone has been a hugely welcome initiative and has now been adopted permanently.

“The closure of Kelvin Way has provided a safer environment for pupils and their families to walk, cycle, scoot and skateboard to school and this has been very welcome.

“We are now working very closely with our Parent Council to engage positively with local community groups who share our wish to provide safe travel routes for everyone in our local area.

“This is a very busy part of the c

Day of action against dodgy parking near Hillhead Primary School Picture: Colin Mearns

“This is a very busy part of the city; we have the Hillhead Primary and Kelvinpark Early Years Campus and also Glasgow University and Hillhead High School all in close proximity to one another.

“We are very keen to work with all vested groups to ensure safe routes of travel for all in the community.”