A PENSIONER has called for changes to be made to the roads near a school, after two children were almost run over by her friend.

Catherine Illingworth’s son was hit by a car a few years ago and spent eight months in hospital, and she is determined to increase safety, particularly for children on their way to school.

“It was a shock and it cut deep, and I don’t want to see that again,” said Mrs Illingworth, who lives on Sebright Avenue, near Red Hill Primary School.

Earlier this month, a friend was reversing out of Mrs Illingworth’s driveway in the late afternoon, when she almost hit two young children on skateboards.

“All of a sudden this skateboarder came along – I banged on the window and car boot to tell her to stop,” she explained.

“I had to bang it again to tell her to stop because there was another child coming – so we nearly had two for the price of one.”

She said was “peeved” that a woman with a pushchair, who she assumed to be the boys’ mother – estimating their ages to be four of five years – did not seem concerned when confronted.

“The causation is the way life is today,” she said. “Plus, people, I don’t think, have been given any directions from the school.”

Mrs Illingworth said newly painted yellow lines have also confused people and increased the risk, as has making Sebright Avenue a two-way street, despite being heavily congested with parked cars.

Referring to how the road used to be, she said: "It was dangerous in a way, but when it was a one-way system, we all coped with it.

“There was a lollipop lady who was brilliant, but they stopped her pay about two years ago,” continued Mrs Illingworth. “She was staunch and very good.”

She said the road markings “don’t match up with what’s needed” but said the tactile paving aprons introduced near the school on Midhurst Close are good idea.

She suggested big mirrors be placed on blank walls, to increase visibility to drivers, or a mini-roundabout, as Sebright Avenue and other roads near the school are often heavily congested with parked cars.

“It’s a huge problem but it could be very huge,” she said.

Mrs Illingworth described Midhurst Close as “such a conglomeration” and said the carpark isn’t big enough.

Red Hill headteacher Spencer Morris said: “I will be talking to the children as I always do about how we behave and how we keep safe on the roads.

“The issue with parking round by the school is something we’ve worked really closely on with the parents and the children.”

Referring to Midhurst Close and the area around it, he said: “It’s in our school newsletter, making sure we park sensibly, that we are cycling correctly. But it’s difficult managing that on weekends and half-terms.”

Last month, the police safer neighbourhood team covering Battenhall and Nunnery said it had received complaints regarding parking from the school, parents and residents.

“Safeguarding children is a priority and we must all take ownership,” an SNT statement said.

“Drivers, who have not done so to date, are asked to park legally and considerably, away from school entrances, residents’ driveways and to only park against full kerbs,” it added.