ePetition details
Exempt Permit Zone Repeal
The scheme is poorly planned, and creates congestion and logistical nightmares on surrounding roads outside the zones. It has done little to deter parents driving their children to school. Instead, they park in dangerous areas in the vicinity of the zone, paradoxically making the area more dangerous for children getting to and from school.
In a county as rural as Shropshire, it is not uncommon for parents to need to travel distances to schools. According to Shropshire Council's Community and Rural Strategy booklet released in 2020, 57% of all of Shropshire's residents live in small communities like villages or hamlets, not all of which have a school. In addition, Shropshire's public transport is notably poor and is not a viable option for many. We cannot copy and paste schemes suited for urban locations, which have the infrastructure and public transport means that we lack.
It is not just parents impacted. People travelling to work need to take diversions and contribute to increased congestion on surrounding roads. For children (or anyone else) walking or cycling to school, the roads to schools are more hazardous. There are few roads and direction choices in most towns in the county, increasing the likelihood of congestion. Traffic ends up funnelled into narrower roads not suitable for the volume.
This scheme is not suitable for Shropshire, especially currently
with the county's infrastructure and lack of public transport.
Instead it is an unfair targeting of residents trying to live, get
to school, and get to work. Children may be safer on the roads
directly outside the school, but beyond that the roads are more
congested, dangerous, and polluting. There are a litany of other
problems that require addressing, such as increased reliability of
public transport, or better road safety awareness, before this
scheme should be considered.
This ePetition runs from 30/11/2024 to 01/07/2025.
One person has signed this ePetition.