A SCHOOL has blocked drivers from travelling past its gates during school run times after parents voiced safety fears.

Barriers and cones will prevent cars from driving past West Leigh Infants School after concerns about “inconsiderate drivers”.

Headteacher Yolande Sayer signed up to Southend Council’s School Streets scheme to stop the motorists causing panic among parents.

Staff will also be on patrol.

She said: “The project has been delayed by Covid, we signed up in September.

“There have been no crashes, but we get a few inconsiderate drivers.

“We signed up to remove those safety fears. The feedback from parents has been brilliant already.”

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Four staff, trained by Southend Council, will man each end of Ronald Hill Drive.

Southend Council launched the scheme in December, with both Greenways and Leigh North Street the first to take part.

Daniel Cowan, Labour councillor of the St Laurence ward, said: “It’s fantastic to see another school sign up to the scheme.

“It’s for the benefit of the safety of children and the environment.

“Tackling our air quality is a major challenge, our air quality is one of the worst in the country.

“It’s all about a little step here and then little steps elsewhere. It all adds up.”

The scheme is being funded through the Department for Transport emergency active travel funding.

Council bosses have operated a “staggered approach” to the launch of the project.

Tony Cox, leader of Southend Tories, added: “In principle, this addresses safety concerns, but there are major issues if you want to roll it out to every school.

“You have to consider if delivery drivers need to get down the road, or people need to go to work. What if there’s a gas leak?

“You have to cover all the factors, they all need to be taken into consideration.”

The council is aiming to roll out the plan across the town in the next few months.