THE daily rush of parents picking up their children from school has become a nightmare for residents living near Oakhurst Primary School.

Homeowners say traffic mayhem descends every day at 3.15pm in Pioneer Road as motorists park up to collect their little ones, and they are asking them to be more considerate and safety conscious.

Heather Hopkinson, who has lived in the road for six years, said she is worried that a child could be hurt if action is not taken.

“If it is a local school for local children, why are there so many cars? Parents are being inconsiderate,” she said.

“Normally it’s not a problem for me because I come home just after 3.15pm. Today I had to come home early and I had to go the wrong way round and there were cars parked both sides of my drive. I couldn’t get on it.

“It is just mayhem. It makes me angry. I have spoken to my neighbours and three, out of five or six houses, have problems getting on their drives.

“All I want is somebody to do something, even if they make the road one way. It has got to be made safer. The children are at risk.”

Heather has contacted the council, police and the school but has not had any luck getting the rules changed.

The school opened in September 2009 and Heather said the parking problem has got steadily worse.

“My children went to Greenmeadow and I can remember standing watching the traffic wardens issuing tickets in front of the driver.

“The traffic wardens won’t come here because the road is unadopted.

“The headteacher has put it in his newsletters and, in fairness, he has done a lot but he doesn’t know what else he can do. We need to get something sorted.

“As residents we shouldn’t feel like we have to wait until school has gone home before we go home.”

Dale Burr, headteacher of Oakhurst Primary School, said: “We are working with both our parents and the local community to make sure it is as safe as possible for the children. That is our priority.

“I have put this in the newsletter on at least six occasions, we have had a coffee morning about road safety and lessons for the children.

“What we have got to do is rely on parents to park safely. We are working with them to ensure they don’t double park or park on the pavements.

“I feel my job is to educate children and parents to ensure we make the parking as safe as possible. What we don’t want is for any child to be injured by a car.”