Ewan joins school-run mums' protest

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Actor Ewan McGregor has joined forces with mothers in Hampstead to fight for the right to drive their children to school.

A ban by Camden council on parking on yellow lines and residents' bays outside schools has caused outrage.

And father-of-two McGregor, who lives in the area, said dropping children at school is a parent's right.

He said: "My children go to two different schools and there is no adequate pay and display or meter system at either school.

"Without the permits Camden can target the schools and make thousands in fines."

At present, parents are given permits which allow them to park for 15 minutes while they deliver or collect their children.

But the council has decided the permits are not in keeping with its green transport policy and has decided to phase them out by 2008. It has begun reducing the number of permits it issues to schools and nurseries every year. Schools currently have less than 60 per cent of their original number of permits and this will continue to decrease.

Parents must now find other ways of taking their children to school.

The decision has sparked anger, with mothers and fathers saying that young children cannot be expected to walk long distances and that the Tube and buses are often impractical. A campaign group - Schools Travel Action Group (Stag) - has been formed.

It has already collected a petition of 1,300 signatures calling for a reversal of the policy and claiming that it will lead to traffic chaos and illegal parking as well as compromise pupils' safety.

The petition will be presented to officials at a council meeting on 1 March. Parents will also stage a demonstration outside the town hall beforehand. Mother-of-two Susan McCarron of Stag said:

"We all recognise there is a problem but we want to find realistic and safe ways of reducing congestion and alternatives to using cars.

"We are prepared to sit down with the council to find solutions. Instead, Camden is alienating us with its campaign against parents."

WHERE BOROUGHS DRAW THE YELLOW LINE

  • Barnet: parking not controlled in most places during school hours - where it is, parents are given 15 minutes to drop off and pick up.
  • Brent: controlled parking in most areas but rules do not operate during school-run time.
  • Ealing: 10 minutes to drop off children provided car not parked dangerously or obstructively.
  • Islington: five minutes outside schools provided parking is sensible.
  • Kensington and Chelsea: two minutes to pick up or drop off outside school.
  • Tower Hamlets: five minutes to drop off and pick up children.
  • Westminster: 10 minutes to pick up or drop off at school.

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