Calls to make St Edmunds Road one-way following spate of serious near-misses outside Temple Hill Primary Academy
Parents and teachers are calling for a street outside a primary school to be made one-way following a spate of "serious near-misses".
Agitated motorists are reported to be at "loggerheads" during morning and afternoon drop-offs in scenes likened to the "Wild West" outside Temple Hill Primary Academy.
It is due to limited access along St Edmunds Road in Temple Hill, Dartford and teachers and parents have voiced concerns over parking and drivers mounting the curb.
The school, which is part of the Galaxy Trust, has previously called for a drop off zone to be created, CCTV and other safety measures to address problems.
A consultation is currently underway to make St Edmunds Road one-way from its junction with Farnol Road onwards.
It follows reports of recent "serious near misses" outside the school gates.
Kent County County is seeking views on the mater and says the order is being made for the purpose of "avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using the road or any other road".
Complaints by residents have been flagged by Kent County Councillor Kelly Grehan who has been campaigning for improvements.
The Dartford Labour leader said: "I have spent time outside the school during morning drop off and talking to parents and staff.
"It’s clear that cars approaching each other from opposite ends of the road is not safe for drivers or pedestrians.
"We are regularly seeing cars mounting the pavements or reversing back down the road."
She added: “The danger faced by children walking to school is something that keeps me at awake at night and it has been frustrating that safety measures I have previously proposed, alongside the school, such as closing the road at drop off and pick up times, have been blocked by the Conservatives."
Temple Hill parent and local campaigner Darren Povey, 42, is also backing the proposal.
The dad-of-two began campaigning for people to take more care behind the wheel after his 13-year-old son, Dean, was hit by a drug driver. He has now made a full recovery, but the accident had long-term effects on the family.
Supporting the campaign for the street to be made one-way, Darren, who lives in Kingsley Avenue, said: "Some days it is like the Wild West when you get cars coming down one way so they have to mount the pavement
"Or they park on the pavement to let let oncoming vehicles come through."
He added: "Some days it is calmer out there and other days it is just horrendous.
"It is like any other school in Dartford, there are quieter days but then we have traffic and parents at loggerheads."
On some occasions he says kids have had to witness unsavoury "altercations" between motorists.
Darren's daughter Isla, eight, attends the school and he is concerned for her safety and others.
The dad-of-two has been volunteering his free-time a lollipop man outside the gates to help ensure kids are protected.
The parent governor added: “The safety and well-being of the children is one of the biggest priorities, which is why following several serious near misses outside of the school, I am now volunteering every morning and afternoon as a lollipop person to try to stop dangerous parking and driving outside.
"We have got the full support of the school which has really helped."
Darren has also expressed concerns over the lack of CCTV in St Edmunds Road.
Last year cameras were installed in several locations outside primary schools in Dartford in a clampdown on irresponsible driving during pick-up and drop-off times.
It was hoped the installation of additional cameras would be rolled out to further locations once additional columns and infrastructure is in place.
Speaking at the time, Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite said Temple Hill would be "top of that list".
A consultation runs until midday August 8. Click here to respond.