ANGRY parents have lashed out at school travel plans for failing to help those who have no option but to drive their children to school.

With three schools rubbing shoulders at Botley Road, Fair Oak, journeys to and from school often involve heavy traffic and crowded footpaths.

Wyvern Technology College, Fair Oak Junior and Fair Oak Infant Schools have all been working on travel plans in a bid to make the 'school run' safer and more healthy for the 1,700 children who go there.

But parents who drive their children to school are fed up with access problems and the lack of parking.

Deborah Harvard, from Thornhill Park Road, Southampton, lives outside the school's catchment area, and has children in the infant and junior schools.

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

Mrs Harvard said she is not the only parent experiencing problems, adding: "I have spoken to at least ten other people who share the problem. It's just a fact that car journeys to and from school are necessary for some parents."

Parking at the site is available for permit holders with special circumstances, but Jinty Williams, head teacher of Fair Oak Junior School, said: "Parking has always been a problem at the school and it's a great concern for parents and staff.

"If we had cars coming into the entrance for a drop-off point, we would have a very unsafe environment with children walking around lots of moving cars."

The busy Botley Road is often congested during the school run, forcing parents to park in nearby residential roads.

"The travel plan should be looking at travel to school as a whole, and making plans to accommodate all who travel there, by whatever means, otherwise it might as well be called the school walking plan," said Mrs Harvard.

Wyvern Technology College has implemented its travel plan, which included ideas from pupils, parents, staff and councillors.

Assistant head teacher Ian Coombs said: "We have made walking safer with two new crossings and a cycle 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."

A spokesman for Eastleigh Borough Council said: " The school travel plan is to encourage children to walk, cycle or use public transport.

"This will improve road safety, reduce pollution and improve children's health and fitness."

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

"It's not the school's fault if they haven't got the money or resources and it's a very good school," she said. "But it's unreasonable to say that it's not our problem, when it's everybody's problem."