RESIDENTS have raised concerns over parking ‘chaos’ which could arise when a new primary school is built in Malvern.
Worcestershire County Council’s planning committee have been recommended to approve the authority’s own plans to build the new Malvern Vale Primary School on Swinyard Road at a meeting next Tuesday (September 20).
The one-form entry school will expand the exisiting Somers Park Primary School in order to accomodate pupils from the Malvern Vale housing development.
But worried residents have told the authority that parking on Swinyard Road will become worse should the plans be allowed to go through.
Currently it is planned for the new school to provide nine parking spaces for staff which is feared to be not enough.
Residents say this will lead to a situation where parents will park outside their homes, with cars already parked, to drop off and collect their children and therefore causing dangers on the road.
A report detailing the plans says: “Adequate parking should be provided for parents. The consequences of not providing spaces would be chaos, inconvenience and safety implications.”
The report states there had been calls for planning consent to be delayed until ‘sufficient’ car parking arrangements were made.
A comment from county and district councillor John Raine reads: “Dangerous short term parking and waiting must be particularly avoided on Swinyard Road.
“Congestion at the start and finish of school is a worry and could prove to cause considerable aggravation for local residents (as is the case at Somers Park and Northleigh).”
There is a community centre car park next door which could be used but the report states that a residential meeting in July established that an arrangement for the school to use it had not been obtained.
There is also concern over traffic problems which might be generated by the school with the report adding that Swinyard Road has recently suffered near misses and road obstructions.
However the county Highways Officer has raised no objections with the council saying there will be huge encouragment or youngsters to walk to school with parents.
The report adds: “They (County Highways Officer) comment that they anticipate the majority of trips to take place on foot.”
Concerns have also been expessed that the proposed height of the school’s main hall would ‘unnecessarily’ restrict views of the Malvern Hills for residents living opposite.
The concept of building a new primary school in Malvern was agreed in July last year.
Are you worried about parking at the new Malvern Vale Primary School? Email your thoughts to [email protected].
