PROPOSED new parking restrictions around Buntingford s schools have been condemned as draconian . Under plans from Herts County Council, streets such as Monks Walk and Bowling Green Lane would become no parking zones between 8am and 5pm in a bid to reduc

PROPOSED new parking restrictions around Buntingford's schools have been condemned as "draconian".

Under plans from Herts County Council, streets such as Monks Walk and Bowling Green Lane would become no parking zones between 8am and 5pm in a bid to reduce parking near schools and improve child safety.

But Cllr Pat Whittaker told a meeting of Buntingford Town Council: "I'm worried about how this will affect residents. Restrictions may be needed at peak times but 8am to 5pm is more or less all day. It seems draconian to me."

The proposed restrictions are part of a initiative to make streets around schools safer.

Currently all schools have yellow zig-zag lines painted on the road outside to discourage parking.

However, these are not legally enforceable, and the county council wants to convert them to make parking illegal.

County councillor Stuart Pike, executive member for highways, said: "This is a safety driven scheme. The measures aim to make the roads around schools safer for children."

However, Cllr Surjit Basra expressed concern that residents had not been fully consulted about these proposals.

He said: "It's an absolute lie to say that residents have been consulted. I live in the affected area and I haven't been consulted. I would like to know who has?"

A spokeswoman for Herts County Council said: "The reason the restrictions will be in place all day is primarily that schools have children going in and out at various times."

The spokeswoman added that details of the plans had been sent to all residents living in the roads concerned, asking them for their views, while announcements were also made via the local media.

But she said the council had received "very few responses" from the public about the matter.