DERBY Telegraph readers have had their say on a renewed clampdown on people parking illegally near Derby schools.
To kick-off the new term, a patrolling camera car used to catch motorists flouting parking rules outside schools will return to the roads next month.
The vehicle, which has a CCTV camera mounted on top, has been monitoring 22 schools in the city during mornings and afternoons to check drivers have parked correctly.
But Derby Telegraph readers have been divided on whether the council are right to clamp down on parents.
Craig Cowley wrote on the Derby Telegraph's Facebook page: "About time. Children and parents' safety is being put at risk due to lazy parents who can't be bothered to walk their children.
"They have to park outside the school gates on red boxes and zigzag lines.
"The fines should be higher and points on their licences."
Jackie Davies agreed, writing: "Definitely in favour.
"Too many lazy parents using cars when they could walk. If you have to use a car then park a 5 min walk away from the school."
Stacey-Jayne Langford also believed the council was right in its approach. She said: " I agree. Far too many parents drive their children to school when they live walking distance to it.
"Fining them is the only way to get through to people these days because everything is about money."
But Becky As Salafiyyah questioned why people were surprised there are parking problems. She said: "It's ridiculous, they build schools in residential areas then complain when people park an collect their kids.
"Maybe the council should build a car park then for parents. Where do you expect us to park when we collect our kids?"
And Stacey Leigh agreed, writing "I'm fed up of people using my drive or blocking my drive as I live on the same road as a school.
"But I do agree there should be somewhere for them to park, as most people collect their kids from school straight from work so can't always just walk to school."
But Sarah Harrington did not see it as black and white as others did, saying that walking to pick her child up would be "impractical"
She said: "I agree that some parents are indeed really lazy and others I've seen park really badly without any consideration for the residents.
"It's completely impractical for me to take my daughter to school and then get to work on time if I walked or used the bus, so it's not always as straightforward as people think."
