PARENTS' fears about the closure of a car park used while children are dropped off at a Chiswell Green school have been laid to rest this week.

The entrance to a section of the car park in Greenwood Park, used by parents of children at Killigrew Junior and Infants Schools in West Avenue, will be blocked off by a gate, but adequate space will be still be available for parents to park.

St Stephen Parish Council chairman George Old said half of the car park will be resurfaced, while the other half will be left as an overspill gravel car park.

He said: 'Unfortunately, lots of people have been seeing the gate and thinking we are going to shut it off. The car park will still be open. We can even give a key to the car park to the school.'

Chairman of governors Penny Wright said the council did not consult with the schools or local residents before deciding to put up the gate.

She said: 'The parish council are doing this while parents are on holiday.

'It is going to cause a great deal of distress because we have a lot of professional parents who cannot stroll with their kids to school.

'We also have a number of disabled parents, who are not going to get anywhere near the school because it is at the end of a cul-de-sac.

'The school cannot afford to contribute towards the resurfacing of the car park.

'Hertfordshire has a dreadful record for safety, and there are plans to put a pelican crossing there, but that won't be there until next February.

'We do not support the closure of the car park, and we urge our parents to park there.'