A community leader has called for Suffolk County Council to step in amid ongoing issues with dangerous parking outside a primary school. 

Pat Hanlon, who represents Haverhill East on West Suffolk Council, said he has been trying to get Suffolk County Council to create drop-off areas outside Westfield Primary Academy in Chalkstone Way after issues with parking in the area.

He said the bollards to stop people parking on the paving outside of the school have broken up due to people parking over them when they drop off their children.

East Anglian Daily Times: Pat Hanlon, who represents Haverhill East on West Suffolk CouncilPat Hanlon, who represents Haverhill East on West Suffolk Council (Image: WSC)

"I had been trying for years, and still am, to get Suffolk County Council to have drop-off areas, the same as Samuel Ward and Churchill Specialist School on Chalkstone Way," he said.

"People on the Chalkstone estate quite rightly complain about not being able to get their cars out of garages and bin freighters having trouble getting to the bins to empty." 

Dangerous parking around the school has also been identified as a local policing priority.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesperson said: “We have been aware of parking issues at Westfields school for some time and is not an uncommon problem in many residential areas that have schools. 

"Although we are not the primary agency who deal with car parking issues, we have been working with the school and local councillors to provide some police visibility on occasions where possible and resources allow."

East Anglian Daily Times: Westfields Primary Academy in HaverhillWestfields Primary Academy in Haverhill (Image: Google maps)

Carly Moody, headteacher at Westfield Primary Academy, said: “We are aware of parking issues around the school during drop off and pick-up times.

“We are liaising and working closely with our parents, community and local police officers to try and address the issue.”

A Suffolk County Council spokesperson said: "We haven’t received any recent reports of parking concerns at this location, however any concerns should be reported to Suffolk Police."