PARKING restrictions will be imposed outside a Swindon school after a toddler was almost knocked down by a driver.

PCSOs, parents and teachers at Robert Le Kyng Primary School, off Westcott Place, have grown increasingly concerned about what they say is dangerous parking outside the school at drop-off and pick-up times.

Kate Mackinnon, deputy headteacher, said there had been one recent incident where a reversing car had almost knocked a toddler to the ground. The youngster was the sibling of a child at the school. PCSOs have also visited the school, offering stern words to parents caught with children riding without seatbelts.

Now, Swindon Borough Council is looking to introduce a ban on cars waiting or loading along Westcott Street adjacent to the school between 8am-9.30am and 2.30pm-4pm.

Anyone caught parking outside the school during the proscribed periods could face a hefty £70 fine.

Mrs Mackinnon said: “The priority for us is that every child arrives to school and leaves school safely. For that to happen the roads need to be clear and the driving on the approach to the school needs to be sensible.

“We have no parking on site. We need parents to park further away from the school and walk their child in.”

Mrs Mackinnon added: “We understand some parents have distances they have to travel.

“Unfortunately, right at the entrance to the school there’s only very limited parking. We have parents who are approaching too quickly in their cars. We place cones out to make the area safer, but there are people who knock the cones over.”

She praised the council’s proposals: “For us the first impact will be that the children will be able to cross the road in front of the school safely. They will be arriving to school happy, coming with their parents.”

Swindon Borough Council plans to introduce an experimental traffic order in the new year. It could be revised if comments are received from residents, parents or others in the first six months of the order. Julie Furneval, traffic technician at the borough, told councillors and South Swindon Parish Council in an email: “It will allow the council to consider modifying the order should the need arise.”

South Swindon Parish Council’s planning committee backed the keep clear marking plans. Committee vice-chairman Patrick Herring said: “The school is arguing it’s a good idea and we are thoroughly supportive of anything that makes their life easier.”