The petition of residents in the Castle Bromwich ward of the Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North Constituency
Declares that the scale of parking violations around Castle Bromwich Infant School has worsened significantly in the last 12 months, with cars parked illegally over drives, pavements, and double yellow lines.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Solihull borough council to increase the frequency of parking enforcement around the school at drop-off and pick-up times, and to reinstall a road sign on Hurst Lane North to deter cars from parking illegally.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Liam Byrne, Official Report, 21 July 2025; Vol. 771, c. 664.]
[P003101]
Observations by The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Lilian Greenwood):
Responsibility for traffic management on local roads rests with the relevant local authority, as they are best placed to consider how local needs can most effectively be met. It is therefore a matter for individual authorities to decide on the nature and scope of parking policies and to balance the needs of residents, emergency services, local businesses and those who work in and visit the areas.
Under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local authorities have a statutory responsibility to provide appropriate traffic management schemes for the roads they manage. They are free to make their own decisions about the streets under their care, provided they take account of the relevant legislation.
There are a number of measures that local authorities can introduce outside schools to promote the safety of pupils. Local authorities can put in place “School Keep Clear” markings which are legally enforceable when used in conjunction with an upright road sign, as prescribed in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, as amended.
Current legislation permit the police, or local authorities with civil enforcement powers, to carry out enforcement via issue of a penalty charge notice. There are two levels of penalty charges with the higher level applying to the more serious contraventions, which includes parking on zig-zag markings. It is for each authority to decide how they will carry out their enforcement duties.
Under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, local authorities with existing civil parking enforcement powers can issue PCNs for contraventions of moving traffic restrictions. Examples of such restrictions include ignoring “no entry” signs, performing banned turns, access restrictions for certain vehicle classes and unlawful entry into box junctions. The police retain powers to enforce such restrictions and any police action would take precedence.
Local authorities wanting to undertake civil enforcement of moving traffic contraventions must apply to the Secretary of State for an order to be made designating the council as the enforcement authority in their area. Only then can enforcement begin in practice. Once local authorities have been granted a designation order for moving traffic enforcement, they can begin enforcing school street restrictions.
School streets are signed using existing “no motor vehicles” or “pedestrian and cycle zone” signs. These are already available to local authorities and clearly indicate that, during the times of operation, the road is closed to motor vehicles. They allow for a range of exceptions to be provided, for example for blue badge holders, or resident permit holders. The Department’s view is that existing signs work well, and there are therefore no plans to introduce alternatives. When a scheme is introduced, local authorities should work with schools and residents to make sure it is publicised in advance and drivers are fully aware of the changes and can adjust their journeys accordingly.