MORE than twice as many traffic wardens will patrol the streets around schools in a bid to clamp down on dangerous parking.

Tuesday’s meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council’s transport committee unanimously approved a plan to add three more enforcement officers to the city’s team of two.

It comes after multiple reports of dangerous and illegal parking creating a hazardous environment for schoolchildren around school gates.

The council considered adding CCTV or numberplate-recognition cameras but after taking advice from other boroughs concluded installation would be difficult and costly at more than £1 million.

Green Councillor Pete West said he welcomed the change which was much needed.

He said during efforts to tackle illegal parking outside schools during the city’s Green administration, one council officer was assaulted by a motorist after challenging the offending parking.

He added: “It’s pretty serious, we’ve spent a fortune over the years creating safe roads around schools, which is completely undermined by people parking on the school ‘keep clears’.”

Councillor Lee Wares, whose letter to an October committee meeting instigated the council report, said: “Thank you for acknowledging our fantastic idea and for supporting the report’s recommendations.”

He asked for two further reports: one into whether such wardens could be empowered to issue on-the-spot fines, and another into whether body-worn cameras can be provided to lollipop men and women to provide protection and to deter those who might be verbally abusive.

Both amendments passed unanimously.

Councillor Tony Janio told the meeting that children running between cars was a danger which was happening on a regular basis.

He said: “It is chaos, it’s dangerous, it can’t go on.”

Green Councillor Leo Littman said: “You can feel the love around the table.

“We’re all in favour of this, it’s a good report, I’m very happy to support this wholeheartedly.”

He said parents had contacted him to warn of the dangers to children of parked cars obscuring the road.

Currently the council has two enforcement officers who visit schools at opening and closing times.

The council will also take raise awareness of inconsiderate parking, bringing in action weeks and a “one stop shop” webpage of advice for schools, parents and carers on the website.

There are 71 enforceable school keep clear road markings in the city, so more enforcement will be carried out with schools in areas outside controlled parking zones.