Harlow MP Chris Vince raises issue of parking outside primary schools

Chris Vince / Sun 14th Jun 2026 at 07:31am

HARLOW MP Chris Vince rose on the floor of the House of Commons to express concerns about parking outside schools.

Mr Vince said: “Little Parndon, Pemberley Academy and Latton Green are three primary schools in my Constituency of Harlow that have raised concerns about road safety outside their schools.

They have asked the county council to consider introducing zebra crossings, but they are not eligible because they are too close to a junction.

“Will the Secretary of State or one of her Ministers meet me to discuss this issue and whether we can change the guidance, so that young people can be safe when crossing the road outside their school?

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport replied: I am really keen to ensure that we have safe routes to school, and that we enable more children and their families to walk and cycle to school more often.

I would be very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the particular situation in his Constituency, and I advise him to look out for the publication of the third cycling and walking investment strategy tomorrow. It will have more information on the work we are doing to improve journeys to school for children.

6 Comments for Harlow MP Chris Vince raises issue of parking outside primary schools:

Jac

2026-06-14 09:07:54

If these crossings would be too close to the junction how did the two crossings one by Fatima church and the one on momples road get permission considering how close one is to the roundabout and the the other one is so close to the junction !!!

Nigel

2026-06-14 09:32:34

If you cannot have a crossing near a junction, then who designed the crossings at the town centre roundabout where you have more traffic lights than Blackpool has illuminations

David Forman

2026-06-14 09:37:18

If we read Heidi Alexander's reply in.the final paragraph of this news article, we find out that Vince's question was a carefully crafted ploy to allow Ms Alexander to raise the government's third cycling and walking investment strategy. Being a helpful chap, here is the link to that strategy, but I would have thought Chris Vince or his minions would have the savvy to update this article: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-third-cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy

Harlow resident

2026-06-14 09:38:23

It's shocking parents have no regard to road safety every day I see multiple vehicles parked on the double yellow lines outside Little Parndon School. What message are they sending to their children? It's ok to break the law every day.

Harlow resident

2026-06-14 09:39:55

It's shocking every day I see multiple vehicles parked on the double yellow lines outside Little Parndon school. What message is this sending to the children? It's ok to break the law?

David Forman

2026-06-14 10:03:38

Chris is being slightly more subtle in putting the ball on the tee for the secretary of state, but also demonstrating his lack of propaganda skills, because his main priority is promoting himself rather than his government's policy. Therefore, I feel duty bound to inform the public. The new walking and cycling investment strategy is backed by £4.5billion of investment. Key Quote: 'Between 2025/6 and 2029/30 - the period covered in CWIS3 - we will prioritise building safe, coherent networks around schools, giving children the confidence and freedom to travel independently.". One of the main objectives is: "60% of children aged 5 to 16 will usually walk or cycle to school by 2035." There you go Chris and Stefan, it wasn't that difficult to summarise government policy. Note: Stefan Mullard-Toal is Chris Vince's Chief of Staff - which is a classic case of the blind leading the blind.