THERE is increasing concern over the safety of children and parents outside St Mary’s Primary School in Marlborough due to excessive traffic.

Chair of the school governors Janneke Blokland said the solution is for more parents to walk their children to and from school and for a pedestrian crossing on George Lane to be near the second entrance to the school.

"When the school was built it was for Marlborough and in Marlborough," she said, "the town is very compact and the idea was for parents to walk their children to school."

The school caretaker Morgan Jamieson has the task of maintaining safety outside the school which is a problem as in the afternoon not only does the primary school break up but so does the senior school at St John's.

Parents park their cars on the double yellow lines outside the entrance in order to drop off or pick up their children in Ducks Meadow which is a cul-de-sac. Workers at nearby businesses also park there as do construction workers meaning the road is very busy twice a day.

The caretaker said there are frequent stand-offs between motorists, illegal parking and due to the narrow pavements children spilling into the road. He said he feared an accident could happen especially if a car lost control on the steep hill.

Mrs Blokland said there had been a walking bus but it lapsed due to the need for someone to run it. The school encouraged parents walking to school and wanted flashing lights for a 20mph limit in the road at peak times.

A school crossing operative had been difficult to recruit due to the short hours and low salary but there was still a vacancy if someone wished to take on the role.

Staggering the times of the two school was impractical as parents will often have children at both schools. Mrs Blokland said the school town council wanted improvements and police to enforce the parking rules.