“Britain’s greenest primary school” has become a pollution hotspot due to parents’ bad parking habits, neighbours have claimed.
St Mary’s Catholic Academy in Derby, which reopened in December 2023 after an arson attack destroyed the original building, was celebrated at first for its eco-friendly credentials.
But locals living on Broadway, where the school is situated, say the area outside the gates is blighted by air pollution from idling engines.
Residents have complained that school parking is “out of control” – with parents double parking and causing traffic bottlenecks.
They fear an “accident is waiting to happen” as motorists ignore signs and park inconsiderately during drop-off and pick-up times.
Neighbours also claim parents are parking on yellow lines, blocking driveways and creating traffic chaos at peak times.
They fear an ‘accident is waiting to happen’ as motorists ignore signs and park inconsiderately during drop-off and pick-up times
One unnamed resident said he had had “fisticuffs” with parents who blocked his driveway, and warned that some “have no respect” for locals.
The situation is reportedly worsened by pick-ups from nearby St Benedict Catholic Academy on Duffield Road, where parents are said to arrive up to 30 minutes before school finishes, leaving engines running while they wait.
Despite signs on lampposts asking motorists not to park near the school, residents say these are routinely ignored.
Complaints have been raised with both the academy and Derby City Council – but residents claim little has improved.
Michael Moss, who lives near the school, described the scenes at drop-off and pick-up times as “madness”.
“There is sheer madness of drivers blocking the highway in order to drop-off/pick-up their children,” he said.
READ NEXT:
Residents have complained that school parking is ‘out of control’
TILBURY DOUGLAS
“The school may be a ‘Green Oasis’, but it is bounded by air pollution because motorists park indiscriminately, blocking access to houses, and plough up grass verges whilst leaving engines running.
“The congestion, the queuing of traffic and air pollution is being caused by these vehicles.
“So much for the council’s policy towards air pollution… but they say they can’t enforce it.”
Derby City Council says it is aware of the parking issues near St Mary’s Catholic Academy.
MORE FROM THE EAST MIDLANDS:
Complaints have been raised with both the academy and Derby City Council – but residents claim little has improved
A spokesman confirmed they are “arranging for our Civil Enforcement team to conduct some additional patrols over the next few weeks”.
The council noted that while a “School Safe Haven” zone isn’t suitable for Broadway, they are “open to working with the school to implement other measures”.
Kevin Gritton, chief executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said both schools regularly remind parents to park considerately.
“A drop-off and pick-up system is also in operation at St Mary’s, which is used by many parents,” he added.
He emphasised the trust has “no legal power to enforce any action” regarding on-street parking.
