SPEEDING motorists and inconsiderate parking around a Dovercourt school is an accident waiting to happen according to a concerned grandfather.

David Smith,whose two-year-old granddaughter attends Spring Meadow School nursery said: “Flashing 20mph signs have been put in Parkeston Road for when the children arrive and leave school but they are being ignored. I have seen people do at least 50mph and nearly hitting the crossing lady.

“Just as dangerous is the parking outside the school. My daughter was picking our granddaughter up on Tuesday when a lady in a range rover nearly hit them when mounting the path to get as close as she could to the school.

“People need to walk to school if possible.“Parents parking in Parkeston Road also make the problem worse.”

Mr Smith, who is also a governor at the school, added: “The school is doing all it can to improve the situation.

“We have contacted the police, highways and the parking partnership.

“Will it take, God forbid, a child being hit before people sit up and take notice?”

The school has been in touch with Essex county councillor for Harwich Ivan Henderson, who was instrumental in getting the 20mph signs installed.

“We have asked him to try and get us other traffic calming measures put in like flashing slow down signs and bollards in the road like they have outside Mayflower and Chase Lane schools.”

A spokesman for Essex Highways said the issue has to be raised with the local highways panel by Mr Henderson. He added: “It may be that the panel can carry out speed surveys to fully understand the situation near the school and consider any appropriate measures.”

A North Essex Parking Partnership spokesperson said parking enforcement is carried out at schools. He added: “With more than 300 schools across north Essex that all require enforcement activity at similar start and finish times, our enforcement teams patrol as often as possible, working to ensure a fair allocation of resources across the partnership.”

Essex Police's roads policing inspector Danny Parsons, said: “We remain committed to improving safety on the county’s roads and achieve this through close partner working closely within the Safer Essex Roads Partnership.

"This delivers a range of measures including education, engagement and enforcement.

“We continue to operate within a challenging environment and Essex Police now targets enforcement and education activity based on threat, harm and risk."