I am writing in response to Malcolm Balmforth’s letter – ‘All schools need safety measures’ (Keighley News, January 30).

I am outraged at Mr Balmforth’s comments, and wanted to state my opinions in response.

Firstly, Mr Balmforth said there should be double yellow lines outside every school. This is impractical, and as a mum to a child who attends a local village school, I feel this is a ridiculous remark.

At the school, parking is already a nightmare, and many mornings there is a fight between parents for spaces. There are double yellow lines on every street surrounding the school.

One of the streets in question is now becoming increasingly awkward due to residents complaining. They are complaining about parents parking outside their houses on the morning and afternoon school runs.

Firstly, the residents should take into consideration the area they are buying their house in and, secondly, they only buy the house, they do not buy the road, and therefore cannot stop people parking outside their houses.

As for Mr Balmforth’s comments on kids walking to school, this is easier said than done. With it being a village school, people have to drive there as a lot of people live out in the ‘sticks’. I, myself, live more than two miles away from the village school and have to drive. If I didn’t, it would mean me walking along unlit country lanes, which are regularly used as rat-runs by commuters in rush hours, which is dangerous and unpractical with a four-year-old child.

Yes, people with walking difficulties should have precedence for parking, but as for everyone else having to walk, this is a ridiculous idea and obviously hasn’t been thought through properly.

Mr Balmforth is a man who obviously doesn’t experience the school run, so therefore should perhaps try this for a week and he might just get an idea of the difficulties parents face every day in getting their child to school safely and on time.

Lisa Sanderson Keighley