A SCHOOL dogged by traffic problems is to get over £30,000 worth of safety improvements outside its gates.

The improvements will help to tackle the problem of parking at Heighington CE Primary School - created because parents dropping their children off park on pavements, blocking access for mums with pushchairs and causing jams.

Community leaders and police have been warning for years that a child could get hurt.

But this summer, in a link-up between the school, Darlington Borough Council and Heighington Parish Council, a number of traffic-calming measures will be put in place.

These include:

l reducing the speed limit to 20mph;

l creating a traffic island which will help pupils cross Redworth Road;

l creating a 40-space car park,

l installing a new gate to the school and;

l painting double yellow lines.

Darlington Borough Council is to spend up to £25,000 putting in the traffic island, speed limit signs and double yellow lines.

The parish council is to spend about £6,000 putting a car park on the field next to Hall Lane. And the school is to use a grant to put in a new gate.

Gerald Lee, borough and parish councillor for the village, said: "It has taken six years to get to this, it is tremendous progress.

"We hope it will be started in the summer and finished for September, but it is out of our hands and depends on traffic orders."

Headteacher Neil Parker, said: "We hope this will make it safer and alleviate congestion, certainly for the children that live at the Redworth end of the village.

"Mr Lee really has worked hard for this and we hope it will work."

Almost half the pupils at the school come from outside the village, most by car.

Nick Wallis, council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We are hoping to step in and provide traffic-calming measures that will improve safety for pupils on their way into school."

The car park will also be used by the many people who play sports on the field. The parish council is also planning to provide changing facilities.