REGARDING the letters responding to the front-page article Kids Told: Shop Mum (News Shopper, March 29).

I feel for the resident of Ingleby Way for the way his road is used as a dropping off point for Red Hill parents and for the council's failure to resolve the problems relating to the status of the road.

I empathise too with the parent who has issues regarding special needs pupils.

But really, this brave effort on the part of a busy headteacher of a large primary school should not be thwarted by accusations of vanity, lack of care and a desire to simply "push the problem further up the street".

The issue of child safety and careless driving and parking at school-run times is serious.

We should not detract from its importance by bringing in other issues, now the clever actions of the head and her pupils on the school council have brought it to the attention of schools London-wide, by managing to get coverage on BBC TV.

The real issues are by involving the children we can create an understanding of the problem which can only help to solve it.

It may make a few people stop and think "Do I really need to drive my child to school?".

But if only one parent parks more considerately, or better still one more parent walks their child, then we can say well done Mrs Alford and your team of children for showing us there is a better way.

MR SMALL
Chislehurst