Parents dropping off and picking up their children from school could actually be putting other kids at risk of serious injury or worse, a concerned neighbour has warned.

Stuart Taylor lives on Rose Gardens, a residential street situated just around the corner from Laurence Haines Primary School on Vicarage Road.

He says that motorists often park on the pavement and block driveways on the quiet cul-de-sac during the school rush hour, forcing young children and mums with pushchairs into the road.

“If a vehicle is blocking the pavement then people often have no choice but to walk in the road where they are at a much greater risk of being involved in an accident,” he said.

“An accident could occur at any time which could cause a child to lose their life.

“Safety on pavements is essential for the partially sighted. We have residents who are in this category who continue to have problems.

“There is a serious danger of injury. Parking on the pavement can be selfish and dangerous, putting pedestrians – especially those with disabilities or using pushchairs – in danger. We need to act now to prevent a serious accident.”

Mr Taylor, who has two young children himself, is worried that they and his wife Celeste could be involved in an accident if something is not done to prevent poor parking.

He has therefore started a petition calling for blanket parking restrictions to be implemented during peak times – between 8.30am and 9.30am, and later between 3pm and 4pm – a move which he says is backed by the majority of Rose Gardens residents.

Currently people living nearby who hold a K parking permit are able to park on the street.

However Mr Taylor hopes the new restrictions will prevent people living within walking distance of the school driving their children in.

The petition will be considered by Watford Borough Council’s cabinet on Monday, January 16.