Parents and kids protest outside school over ‘horrifying’ driving in Stamford Hill

The group made their feelings known by the gates of Sir Thomas Abney School in Bethune Road at home time yesterday, and were joined by head Geraldine Fitzmaurice and ward councillor Rosemary Sales.

Parent Theresa Hendrickx organised the demo during Road Safety Week because she witnesses the appalling driving daily and fears it is a matter of time before someone is killed. It has already led to one pupil lying in a hospital bed for two days after being knocked down last term, and another suffered a broken leg two years ago.

Theresa said: “We want drivers to stop parking on double yellow lines, we want to stop people driving while using their phones, we want to stop people driving the wrong way down a one-way street, we want to stop them driving on the pavement and we want them to stop at zebra crossings.

“When I see it I’m horrified that people have so little respect for pedestrians, cyclists and the rules of the road.

Parent Zoe Clarkson, lollipop lady Ros Littlejohn and Maisy Clarkson, nine, who is the junior road safety officer. Picture: Polly Hancock (Image: Archant)

“The other day a man got into his car, turned on the engine, dialled a number on his phone, started driving off and hit the parked car in front of him.”

Lollipop lady Ros Littlejohn has been working at the zebra crossing, which is used by kids from 12 schools, for 10 years. She says its the worst it’s ever been.

“I keep saying to parents: ‘One day you’re going to see me flattened on the road,’” she said. “Yesterday a woman crossed with a pushchair and a car just went round her. I’ve seen three cyclists knocked down in the last year.

“And if they want to talk to someone they don’t care if they’re on the zebra crossing, they’ll just stop.”

A spokesman for the council said chiefs would meet with the school to consider making Bethune Road a “school street”, which would ban parents from dropping off and picking up their kids by car. He said bosses were also liaising with police about enforcement action.

Debjani Mitra, the diplomatic senior admin officer at Sir Thomas Abney, said: “We have some very major issues with congestion – not so much speed, as it’s too busy to go fast – and parents are concerned. It’s about changing attitudes and educating people about what’s important.”