It seems like forever that we have been trying to find a solution to the conflicts surrounding the school run. In spite of all efforts tensions remain, drives get blocked, double parking is common and tempers fray.

That having been said there was an incident on Friday where cars parked in the service a road off the Lichfield Rd, New Invention prevented an emergency ambulance parking outside the call they were trying to reach.

They tried to bring the ambulance in the other end of the service road, but things were just as bad there.

The ambulance crew ended up having to park by a bus stop on the main Lichfield Rd where access to and from their ambulance was across a grass verge before threading through the mass of parked cars.

The Head Teachers and Governors at both New Invention Primary and Junior schools have, on numerous occasions over many years, appealed to parents to be more considerate, pointing out the dangers their children are exposed to by those who ignore advice. Both schools are part of the Council’s ‘A*Star programme’  which promotes active sustainable travel and road safety at Walsall schools.

The Police have in the past warned motorists who park illegally and the Council has over the years carried out surveys and put in traffic measures in an attempt to resolve things without success. The problem continues and unfortunately gets worse as time rolls on.

Just a generation ago most of us would have walked to school, but for whatever reason, the fear of abduction, lack of time due to work life balances walking to school has become the exception rather than the rule. The decline in walking to school has resulted in the situation today where i in 4 cars on the road during the morning peak are on the school run, adding to the problem of air pollution around our schools, pollution which affects children’s health.

Hi air pollution is becoming one of the biggest public health challenges and it impacts children as it can stunt the growth of their lungs and be the cause of respiratory problems.

We know that change can happen. To bring change about requires action to make the walk to school safe, healthy and easy for every child. It will require a change in the way that the scarce resources are used. That is something that I and my colleagues are pressing for at both the local level, through lobbying the council, and at the regional level, by lobbying the West Midlands Combined Authority.

In the short term I have written to the council asking for them to use their influence to bring together all the agencies involved, to pool resources. Seeking a multi agency solution to help prevent similar situations to that which happened on Friday. Young lives are too precious to put them needlessly at risk.