TEACHERS are patrolling the streets to prevent parents causing congestion at home time.

Traffic affecting Preston New Road after the opening of the redeveloped Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School saw parents complain of disruption adding to problems with parking at Westholme.

Both schools have joined forces to address the issue and Tauheedul has begun sending senior teachers out at home time to patrol the area.

From next week, Tauheedul is also putting on an after-school club with free refreshments to help parents avoid picking their children up all at once.

The school which reopened after a £7m redevelopment on the site of the former Beardwood High School, was said to have experienced ‘teething’ problems.

Now teachers are speaking with parents who park near the school gates, at junctions and on yellow lines. Parents are being directed into the school where space to collect children has been made onsite.

Westholme School said their teaching staff were also conducting patrols and they were meeting with both Tauheedul and Blackburn with Darwen Council to discuss solutions.

One parent, who asked not to be named, said the issue was getting better, but that more needed to be done.

She said: “Parents parking outside are now fewer in number so they are not still causing generalised traffic chaos.

“However there are still some who park idiotically and put all our children at risk.”

Tauheedul said it was issuing guidance to parents, asking them to park more considerately.

Mufti Hamid Patel, Principal, said most parents were backing the new measures.

He said: “With the support of our parents, we have been working hard to ensure that our students can arrive and leave school in a safe manner.

“We want to do this without disruption to our neighbours and other road users.

“We are particularly grateful for the fantastic support and the many messages of good wishes we have received from local residents. It is greatly appreciated.”

Vivienne Davenport, development director at Westholme School, said: “It does seem to be settling down and we send our staff out to check on things too.

“We will be holding a meeting with Tauheedul and also speaking with the council; but for now the progress is quite positive.”