COUNCILLORS are calling for action on traffic outside schools after parents collecting children block-ed an ambulance trying to get to a pensioner having a heart attack.

The Adver reported last week that, while medics battled to save 75-year-old Brian Cole, a parent tooted their horn and knocked on the door asking them to move the ambulance. Mr Cole later died at Great Western Hospital.

Clare-Marie Burchall, the executive headteacher of St Catherine’s in Stratton, later wrote to parents to complain about the traffic problems in nearby Gay’s Place.

Coun Julian Price (Lab, Covingham and Dorcan), the Labour group’s shadow lead for transport, is urging Swindon Council to work with schools, parents and police teams to find solutions for each school to create more orderly pupil drop offs.

He said: “While the case of the ambulance not being able to get to the hospital is unique, dangerous parking and driving from a few irresponsible parents is common.

“I know of some schools crying out for more action by the council. They tell us there will be casualties if action isn’t taken and that there have already been near-misses.

“Each school will have their own solution to addressing this problem but I think the council needs to work with schools and policing teams in finding solutions.

“The most pressing problem is parents wanting to drive up to the school gates to drop off their child.

“So the council has a role in using its highway powers to prevent this and schools and neighbourhood policing teams will have to take the lead in enforcement.”

Swindon Council recently held a consultation over proposals to impose parking restrictions around Covingham Primary School, in The Harriers.

Councillors Dale Heenan and Richard Hurley (Con, Covingham and Dorcan) said restrictions to cover the peak school hours were needed to stop parents blocking driveways and footpaths, and churning up grass verges.

Coun Hurley said: “If there’s cars parked down the street and there’s an emergency, you have got no chance to get down there..”

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott), the party’s group leader, said parents’ vehicles sometimes blocked the road at King William Street Primary School and some parents at St Joseph’s Catholic College dropped off children in the busy Ocotal Way.

He said efforts by schools, the council and the police were needed to tackle the problem, and suggested that the names of inconsiderate parents could be published in the school newsletters.

Council leader David Renard, said there was no quick fix, but he was willing to listen to ideas.

He said: “A lot of schools now have school safety zones and many of them have double yellow lines in the vicinity. And parking wardens do go out on an occasional basis to enforce the lines. But clearly there’s a very small minority of people who feel the rules and measures in place don’t apply to them.”