LOCAL parents who drive their children to school, could face fines for parking outside the educational establishment at peak times, and other public buildings in the county.

Herefordshire Council says it plans to replace current ‘advisory’ yellow zigzag markings with ‘no stopping on entrance’ markings, enforceable between 8am and 9.30am and between 2.30pm and 4.30pm Mondays to Fridays.

“The aim is to make school keep-clear restrictions legally enforceable through traffic regulation orders,” a Herefordshire Council spokesperson said.

With these in place, “motorists who stop on these markings during the specified hours can be issued with a penalty charge notice”, the authority warned.

Historically, many councils across the UK have faced widespread issues with drivers ignoring advisory zigzags because police or civil enforcement officers cannot legally issue fines for stopping on them without a Traffic Regulation Order.

Penalty charge notices in the county are charged at either £70 or £50 within 28 days, or half that if paid within 14 days.

The current yellow zigzag markings already discourage motorists from stopping outside schools, helping to keep entrances clear and improve visibility.

But the proposed changes will enable the council to take action against motorists who repeatedly disregard these restrictions, supporting safer journeys to and from school, its spokesperson said.

Herefordshire Council’s 88-page proposal, which provides little by way of explanation, lists the schools where the enforcement powers are due to be brought in.

These include Brampton Abbotts CE Primary School; St Mary’s CE Primary School in Fownhope; Garway Primary School; Gorsley Goffs Primary School; Lea CE Primary School; Much Marcle CE Primary School; Ashfield Park Primary School in Ross, St Josephs RC Primary School in Ross; Weston-under-Penyard CE Primary School and Whitchurch Primary School.

Similar restrictions are being brought in at fire stations at both Ross-on-Wye and Whitchurch.