Parking issues in Netherthird continue to be a concern, ever since pupils were moved to Greenmill Primary School, meaning drop-offs were happening in the Craigens Road area.

As a result, the Netherthird & District Community Counci (NDCC)l are again calling on parents to be responsible when picking their child up from the bus.

NDCC Secretary, Tommy Samson, says their main concerns is the safety of the children.

He said: “The main concern first and foremost over the parking issues on and around Craigens Road, Netherthird has been the safety of the school children. And whereas we understand why some parents/carers bring their cars to collect their children, we don’t understand why some insist on parking as close to the school buses as possible, especially as there is adequate parking which can be done safely, sensibly and legally nearby.

“The issue was first highlighted soon after Netherthird PS decanted to Greenmill back in 2017, when the school buses couldn’t always get in or out of the Community Car Park. This problem was taken up with the local council, who acted on it by putting up signs all around the car park advising people not to park there during school bus times. Ever since then, some have taken to parking fully or half on the nearby pavements, double parking at the bays provided for the shops and spilling into the adjoining streets, causing problems for the residents of those streets. More recently, some have taken to parking opposite and on the bus stop on Craigens Road and even leaving cars running unattended.

“After a long period without one, we have once again got a lollipop person in the community. But he’s having issues trying to see if the road is clear because he can’t see past cars on the pavements and parked so close to where he stands to let children cross to and from the nursery school.

“Between the Community Council, Netherthird PS & ECC staff, parents and school children, the Parent Council, Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Cumnock Local Policing, we tried to get the few who insist on causing the issues to change and park safely, sensibly and legally. We’ve continually asked via our social media channels. Ayrshire Roads Alliance along with police officers, have visited the area on numerous occasions.

“Our fear is that it’s going to take a child getting hurt for the minority, who have little regard for the safety of the children and disregard for the safety and inconvenience caused to pedestrians and other road users in the area, to change their ways and start parking safely, sensibly and legally”.

One mum who picks her child up from the area said: “It can be a nightmare when the buses come in.

“There needs to be something properly put in place to keep our children safe from some of the drivers”.