A BAN on cars momentarily stopping outside two Harlow schools during pick up and drop off is set to launch due to ‘inconsiderate’ drivers reports the Local Democracy Reporter.

Essex County Council is set to introduce a Red Route prohibiting cars from stopping along Tracyes Road to let out children going to Passmores Academy and Holy Cross Primary School.

The council blames serious congestion – caused by parking on double yellow lines – for significant delays to bus services between Harlow, Epping, and Ongar as well as the local service which serves Kao Park and the Science Park employment areas.

The council has said that the double yellow line restriction “is clearly insufficient as a means of controlling the parking in this area”.

The proposal now is to replace all the current restrictions requiring no stopping between 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday, except buses, with a Red Route of ‘No Stopping At any Time, Except Buses,’ Mon to Friday 8am to 5pm. A 30-metre stretch near the junction of Tumbler has been allocated for permit holders only.

Parents parking at school times was first identified as a problem for Passenger Transport in October 2020. Passmores Academy have an in-out drop-off point Holy Cross Primary School situated just a few yards away on the opposite side of the road have no such provision.

Essex County Council has added: “The proposal has been suggested in order to improve accessibility and reduce congestion for all vehicles along Tracyes Road, Harlow. This is currently particularly problematic during the extended school peak periods when student pick up and drop off by private vehicles inconsiderately parked can bring the road to a standstill.”

However it has sparked objection that the restrictions would cause further congestion on adjoining roads.

One objector said said: “Having made provision to effectively ban vehicles from the school’s area during the periods immediately before and after school hours, what proposals do you have for the remainder of Tumbler Road, Spencer’s Croft, Tilbury Mead, Spinning Wheel Mead etc. for the inevitable increase in parking issues and traffic congestion that your proposals will cause. There are already parking issues in the area at school times which have led to instances of confrontation.”

Essex County Council said: “This is unlikely to become a major issue, as if parking is displaced into the surrounding cul-de-sacs, there is less scope for major gridlock to occur therefore, with its potential for driver frustration – which is what is experienced now on the main through route. Thus, the potential of driver conflict should be reduced both in terms of scale and likelihood.”

It added: “The congestion issues faced in this area have been present for many years, impacting on residents as well as affecting many vehicles passing through Traceys Road, Harlow, especially at peak school times. Larger vehicles including buses experience particularly severe difficulties in passing through this key route, which in turn affects their ability to operate to schedule. Over time, the issues have been acknowledged variously by residents (and indeed reemphasised within the consultation feedback), seven councillors, Essex Highways, as well as the schools in the area.”