West Dubbo parents are launching a legal battle in a bid to overturn parking infringement notices issued while they were collecting their children from school.

The parents claim an extreme lack of parking space due to poor public planning decisions is to blame for their plight.

At least five West Dubbo parents will fight traffic infringements issued by Dubbo City Council in court, rather than pay “unfair” $79 fines.

The Daily Liberal counted 217 legal car parks along and in the vicinity of East Street during the peak school hours 8am to 9am and 3.30pm to 4.30pm, to service four school communities.

More than 1000 students attend West Dubbo Infants, West Dubbo Primary, St Pius X and Delroy High School, which are located within an 800-metre stretch on East Street.

The parents claim the nightmare parking situation is putting their childrens’ lives at risk.

“Parents are pulling up outside the front and getting their children to run out the gate. Kids are running on the road, with cars and buses coming and going, all because there is nowhere for parents to park,” mother Leah Bayliss said.

“I have to sign my four-year-old into preschool, I can’t just drop her at the gate.”

West Dubbo Parents and Citizens president Simone Gray said a number of parents would be fighting fines they received on February 23.

Single parent Toriel Hocking said she couldn’t afford to pay the fine.

“It’s taking food from my kids’ mouths. I can’t afford to pay a fine for trying to pick my child up from school safely,” she said.

However council’s traffic engineer Dennis Valantine said the no parking zones which take up most of the space on East Street are designed to stop congestion and would not be changed despite the parents’ concerns.

“The parking restrictions in East Street are positive. They enable everyone to access the school and ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrian users,” Mr Valantine said.

“What a load of crap,” mother of three Kim Rooney said.

“It just results in less places to park, making parents lap the street in their cars causing more congestion and putting kids at risk.”

Mr Valantine said nothing could be done to solve the parking problems.

“If people want to use their vehicle to enter congestion zones then it’s first there best dressed. That is why the no parking zones are intended for short stops,” he said.

“Realistically it is a road in and road out. What can you improve? The school could provide off street parking. It’s the classic case of a traffic generating development that does not provide sufficient parking for its own activities.”

The concerned mothers are currently running a petition which they plan to lobby council with.

“Something needs to be done before it is too late and a child is seriously injured,” Ms Gray said.

keely.bell@ruralpress.com