School parking congestion prompts calls for action

The Department of Education is considering plans to improve parking at Albany Primary School, which has been described as “chaotic”.

The school, on Suffolk Street, has heavy congestion and limited parking with many vehicles parked on a verge alongside the Memorial Park Cemetery, despite “no parking”signs.

The Department of Education is looking into the issue.

“A proposal to increase the amount of on-site parking at Albany Primary School is currently being considered for funding by the department’s traffic management program,” it said.

“The City of Albany has not discussed the installation of bollards with the Department.”

A Road Safety Committee has been established to look into the issue with representatives from the department, the City of Albany, Albany Primary School and Albany Senior High School and parents to identify solutions for improving safety and traffic flow around the area.

A parent of two children at Albany Primary School told the Advertiser it was a frustrating situation for parents.

“There is not enough adequate parking at the school, it is chaotic,” he said.

“It’s not necessarily the school’s fault as they are hampered by roads on all sides. But the Education department must address the issue.

“Parents of younger students, kindy and pre-primary, have to walk their children to class and need parking bays, the carparks don’t cater for those parents of any others who might have to visit their child’s classroom, uniform shop or school office.

“Some parents have been told to park at Dog Rock Shopping Centre and walk in, but most parents don’t have time to do that while on the way to work or with younger siblings, especially during Albany’s winter.”