Car park plans for land

A PLOT of land bought to alleviate parking problems at a Portishead school is to be used as a staff car park.

As the expansion of St Peter’s Primary School gets under way, parents have been told the existing staff car park is likely to have been taken over by building contractors when pupils return to school in September.

While the building work is in progress, the Halletts Way entrance will be for pedestrians only, with the exception of vehicles displaying a blue disabled badge.

An area of land between the school field and the High Street has been purchased to use as a drop-off point for parents once the extension is complete. In the meantime, however, it will be used for staff parking.

Neighbours of the school have already expressed concerns over the increase in traffic congestion and on-street parking the expansion will bring.

The school, which will be taking an additional 30 pupils in September, has issued an in-depth travel plan encouraging more people to walk and cycle to school.

Additional scooter pods and cycle racks will be available at both the Halletts Way entrance and the south gate entrance.

The travel plan also highlights park and stride areas, which includes car parks at The Poacher, Folk Hall, Gordano Gate, Lidl and Homebase.

Planning permission was granted earlier this month for the extension of St Peter’s which will help solve the shortage of school places available in the town.

The work should be complete by September 2014 taking it from a 420-pupil school to a 630-pupil school.