Parents are being reminded to park responsibly when they drop their children off at school as a review into parking around schools gets the green light.

A review of yellow zig-zag marking around schools has been ordered as part of a safety drive for our children. Dudley Council will also be maximising the use of the camera car around schools, which photographs cars which stop on the yellow zig-zags. Offending drivers will be issued with a fixed penalty notice if they stop on the zig-zags.

Over the past 12 months 349 penalty notices ordering people to pay up to £70 each time, were issued to drivers who had parked illegally around schools.

The council’s traffic boss today said illegal parking is one of the key priorities and the safety of children around schools must come first. The council also encourages children to walk and cycle to school safely while keeping the roads moving for vehicles. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for environmental, highways and street services, said:

"Illegal parking around schools, and across our town centres, is a big issue and people need to understand that indiscriminate parking will result in a parking fine.

"We are currently looking at the zig-zag markings outside schools to make sure they are in the correct location and cover the school entrances to make them safe for children arriving and leaving school. Stopping on the yellow zig zags will result in a fine.

"Parents should be mindful of where they park as the school term begins this week. We all have a responsibility to keep our young people safe.”

Shoppers can enjoy two hours free parking in town centres as part of plans to boost businesses. Spaces at the Rye Market carpark in Stourbridge, and Pool Road car park in Halesowen have also been made wider to give people more room, as part of strengthening works at the sites.

The results from the zig-zag review will be published at a later date.