Residents living near a Northumberland school are calling for action on the traffic chaos, including 'foul abuse' from drivers.
The concerns relate to the streets around Cleaswell Hill School i n Guide Post.
A petition was presented at Monday's (September 16) meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Council by Stephen Armstrong, chairman of Bedlingtonshire Neighbourhood Watch, which was asked to take up the issue on behalf of residents of School Avenue, Northway, Back Mowbray Terrace, Freehold Avenue and Broadway.
The report to councillors explained that the petition has been signed by 66 people and claims that 'the volume of traffic at any one time is a total disgrace and takes up all of the above streets.
'Buses, mini buses and cars are also parking across residents' driveways and mounting pavements, causing obstructions for parents with pushchairs and residents with mobility scooters.'
Mr Armstrong said: "It's volume of traffic, it's the attitude of taxi drivers and residents are up in arms about it. It's been going on for years.
"Residents have nothing against the school, they love what the school is doing, but at the same time, the school is expanding rapidly and there is no provision for parking and especially the transport.
"Residents are fed up with bad language and foul abuse from the transport drivers."
Since the petition was received, members of Northumberland County Council's transport team have made a number of site visits to see first-hand what is going on.
The report notes: 'It has been apparent that many school transport providers are arriving outside the agreed times of their contract.
'Particularly at school finish times, anyone arriving too early can cause obstruction in the area, while those arriving too late can cause a similar inconvenience as transport providers have allocated slots when they enter the school gates to collect children.'
It has been agreed that the larger vehicles will attend the school earlier and this will then allow all smaller vehicles immediate access, while council officers will be closely monitoring transport providers to ensure that they are adhering to the terms and conditions of their contracts.
Another issue picked up by the site visits was that a number of staff were parking in the surrounding streets, but this was due to the works to install a hydro-pool at the school, which have now been completed.
In relation to the reports of abuse from drivers, Coun Glen Sanderson, the cabinet member for local services, said: "Anyone working for the council, transporting children or whatever, should not be behaving inappropriately so that should be reported and dealt with."
He called for an update on this issue at the March meeting, which was agreed by the other members.
