JOURNEYS to school across Fair Oak will become safer only if travel plans deal with parking problems, say parents.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, some parents have criticised school travel plans in Fair Oak for not doing enough to help drivers.

"Safety should not be used as an excuse to ignore the parking problems," said Deborah Havard, of Thornhill Park Road, Southampton.

"It's dangerous without enough parking and to make the journey safer you need to consider everybody."

Wyvern Technology College, Fair Oak Junior and Fair Oak Infant Schools share the same site in Botley Road, and have all been working on travel plans to make the 'school run' safer.

Parents who drive children to school are fed up with access problems and a lack of parking places. Mrs Havard drives her two children to the infant and the junior school every day because they live outside the school's catchment area.

"Some parents have to use their car and despite government plans there will always be parents who will have no other choice but to drive their child to school," she said.

The schools each have individual travel plans to make life easier for their pupils.

Ian Coombs, assistant head teacher at Wyvern Technology College, said: "We have made walking safer with two new crossings and also made a cycling path to encourage cycling. We can make plans to keep walkers and cyclists safer, but there simply aren't any government plans or funds for car drivers."

Mrs Havard is looking for more parents to come forward and consider starting a campaign to help solve the issue.