FURIOUS residents have hit out at parents over parking outside a village school near Winchester.

The two groups had met in Compton to debate plans to install ‘pinch points’ outside All Saints Primary School.

But instead, villagers focussed on long-standing grievances over parking in Compton Street.

They alleged some parents’ parking was “inconsiderate” and “indiscriminate”, and that children were not controlled outside the school gates.

One resident said: “Have you ever tried to get out of Compton Street at school time?

“I have had to reverse the whole length of Compton Street because, with respect, Compton mums can’t reverse their 4x4s.”

Terry Wilson, chairman of Compton Village Association, said: “There’s a view parents do behave inconsiderately at times: offside doors are opened without consideration, there’s indiscriminate parking; white lines are not observed; and generally we have seen inadequate control of children.”

Sue Martin, of Martin Fields, said: “We don’t drive out of the village between 8.30-10am because at 9.30 you’ve still got parents out there talking — it’s ridiculous.”

Villagers argued putting a pinch point outside the school would have little effect without addressing parking concerns.

The school asked Hampshire County Council to improve safety after a number of near misses outside its gates.

The authority angered villagers earlier this year when it pressed forward with the plans without consulting villagers.

Compton parent Julia Mitchell said: “I think something has to be done about getting children from one side of the road to the other, or soon somebody’s child will get killed.

“The car is here to stay and we have a lot of people who drive their children to school and who have to drive on to work.

“If these measures don’t go ahead who’s going to take responsibility if someone’s child is killed?"

Another parent, Andrew Tuckett, said: “We don’t want a situation like Otterbourne where a child died.

“We have to have a scheme that is draconian to stop people doing something wrong.”

Villagers suggested parents should be stopped from parking in Compton Street and moved to the new park and ride site or a field opposite the school.

Rebecca Spencer, of Carman’s Lane, questioned the county council’s Safer Routes to School scheme, which is meant to encourage sustainable ways of travelling.

She said: “A pinch point will make it a more comfortable environment for parents to drive their children to school.”

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