A SCHOOL is calling for the council to step up and find a solution to the road "chaos" outside its premises after a woman was knocked down by a car.

Marie Dollery was struck by a vehicle as she waited for her child to come out of Harefield Primary School, in Yeovil Chase.

The Daily Echo told how Ms Dollery, 49, became stuck under the car and suffered injuries, which has left her using crutches following the incident on Monday.

And now the school's headteacher is urging Southampton City Council to make true promises made when the roads were administered years ago.

Gary Hampton said: “This has been going on for around 13 years and we as a school do as much as we can to encourage parents to try and leave their cars at home or park sensibly.

“We send out newsletters reminding them, set up walk to school weeks and speak to community officers about the situation.

“Our pupils have even taken it upon themselves to take pictures of the number plates of cars who are parked badly.

“It’s frustrating but the bottom line is it relies on the parents’ goodwill and good sense to not park on top of our school.”

Mr Hampton added: “It’s the same outside every school in Hampshire but the one thing that would be useful is having traffic calming methods installed such as yellow lines or speed bumps.

“When the roads around the school were administered a couple of years ago, Southampton City Council promised that there would be a road traffic plan but nothing has happened.

“It’s time this got resolved and quickly.”

Yesterday, residents contacted the Daily Echo to show their frustration at the road layout and motorists using it.

It was reported that cars parked across the pavements and all along the road, making it dangerous for both children, parents and residents.

Ms Dollery added: “This incident has frightened me to death - my neighbours now take the children to school because I am on crutches.

“We have been warning everyone for so long that these cars just park wherever they want. It obscures the view and means other drivers can’t see each other.

“It will take a child to get knocked down before they do something.”

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: "Harefield Primary School are receiving sustainable travel support services via the My Journey programme.  This support includes the Council’s School Travel Plan Officer working directly with the School and its School Travel Plan Champion to deliver a range of educational campaigns to promote sustainable travel choices and improve road safety, working with the school community.

"Since the start of this academic year we have funded the school to participate in the Travel Tracker initiative which has resulted in car usage dropping from 33% to 19% with a corresponding rise in the number of pupils walking and park & striding.

"The School Travel Planning team will be discussing this unfortunate incident with the Police and the School and through the development of its School Travel Plan identify an action plan that may include changes to the road environment outside the school along with continuing to promote viable alternatives to the car to mitigate congestion and associated safety issues at the school gates."