00:00Want to start an argument with a Medway motorist? Well, you could always show them one of these
00:05new signs that have cropped up outside the Crest Infant School in Rochester. They're
00:10part of the latest wave of school streets that effectively pedestrianised the surrounding
00:15roads at drop off and pick up times. The council says they make the school run safer. Parents
00:22I spoke to say it doesn't really make a difference.
00:25All you're doing is encouraging us to come that little bit earlier and all you're doing
00:29is forcing the traffic further into other streets. So streets that weren't affected are now going
00:35to be affected. Robert Richardson is one of the locals here who is less than impressed.
00:41His stepson and wife both have disabilities and they need to park close to their home.
00:47With my partner having chronic asthma all the cars are going to park this side of the school
00:55now so we're going to be left to park halfway down our street or up that massive hill and
01:00then yeah just don't want it to cause any medical emergencies to my wife.
01:05The new school street zone here and outside the Horstead Primary School brings the total
01:11number across the five towns to 14. Supporters say anything that avoids road accidents is a
01:19good thing. I think it's a very good idea. Safety for the children first. Especially coming up Fairlead Road
01:26because we've got cars parked on this side so when the cars are coming down going up they tend to
01:32be a bit of a queue.
01:33While there are now two new school streets here in Medway plans for a third right outside the gates of
01:40the King's School where I'm stood right now have been scrapped in no small part due to the sheer number
01:47of objections from locals. More than 200 saying the scheme just wouldn't work for the area.
01:56It was it was madness and it would have actually been worse for child safety because they've had to
02:02park a long way away and then walk across some very busy roads to get to school.
02:07But Medway council insist school street schemes work and that they are still looking at alternatives
02:14for the King's School area. The only reason that pupils are being put in danger is again because
02:20able-bodied parents are driving able-bodied pupils and chauffeuring them door to door. That's
02:26completely unnecessary and it's putting other people in danger. Breaching the rules could cost you
02:3270 quid but with some parents pushing back the road walls at the school gates aren't over just yet.
02:39Olly Leader in Medway
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