PARENTS are being encouraged to help improve safety and air quality outside schools.

Illegal, dangerous driving and parking near the gates is a problem outside many schools in Brighton and Hove.

This creates a congested and unpleasant environment, increasing levels of air pollution and at times making it unsafe for families to cross roads.

City councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure safety outside schools.

“We’re urging parents and carers to consider alternative ways of travelling to school and reduce the number of journeys made by car.

“This will help improve safety outside schools, reduce congestion in the surrounding area and encourage children to be more active.”

The city council’s civil enforcement officers can issue penalty charge notices and police can issue fixed penalty notices if a vehicle is parked illegally. This includes stopping on a bus stop, parking in residents’ or disabled bays and on double-yellow lines.

Parents are encouraged to park or drop off their children away from the school gate in a legal and safe way.