Parents fear 'absolute carnage' over road changes

4 hours ago

Sara Thornton,in Deepcutand

Patrick Barlow,South East

News image — Parents at Lakeside Nursery in Deepcut have shared concerns about a lack of parking, road safety and HGVs on the road

Supplied A lorry with a car parked in front of it. A woman is stood by the car with her back to the camera. A number of cars are parked by the side of the road around them. — Parents at Lakeside Nursery in Deepcut have shared concerns about a lack of parking, road safety and HGVs on the road

Parents at a Surrey school say plans to change a one-way road outside the site to two-way will cause "absolute carnage" over fears about road safety and a lack of parking.

Roads outside Lakeside Nursery and Primary School in Deepcut are due to become two-way from the start of the new school year in September, which will also remove 10 parking bays outside the school.

Concerned parents say with nowhere to park and safely drop off their children, the changes to Mindenhurst Road could lead to people being injured.

Surrey County Council, which is responsible for the changes, said it had invested an extra £3million in improving road safety around schools.

"Mindenhurst Road was always intended to be for two-way traffic, with the current one-way arrangement in place purely as a temporary measure," said its spokesperson.

"St Barbara's Church car park will provide alternative parking provision for school drop-offs and pick-ups ahead of any works to make Mindenhurst Road two-way."

Wendy Salmon, who takes her grandchildren to and from the school, says: "Children are running around and it is dangerous - someone is going to get hurt."

She says: "It's going to be carnage unless they can put some kind of light system in place to stop it being two-way at school pick up times."

Sara Thornton / BBC A woman wearing a black top stood in front of a building. — Sarah Hand said issues near the school were happening "every single day"

Parent Sarah Hand says: "It's happening every single day.

"There's no barriers for safety for the children. My concern is someone dying."

In 2023, Lakeside School was moved from Frimley, with the hope children would be able to walk to school once nearby housing developments were completed.

Parents say HGV lorries using the road should not be allowed to drive outside the school during school pick-up and drop-off times.

A petition has been set up by parents calling for the scheme to be scrapped, and for additional road safety measures such as roadside barriers to be erected.

A spokesperson for Surrey Heath Borough Council said the road "was always intended for two-way traffic", with the current arrangement a temporary measure.

"St Barbara's Church car park, which is due to open in early July ahead of any works to make Mindenhurst Road two-way, will provide alternative parking provision for school drop off and pick up", they added.

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