A ‘20mph is plenty’ scheme would curb parent concerns about road safety near a school, a councillor has claimed.

Councillor Kerry Smith is calling for action on The Knares, leading to Lee Chapel Primary School, where a combination of poorly parked cars and speeding drivers is causing concerns.

Pick-up and drop off times cause havoc on the busy road, with Mr Smith admitted he feared it may take a serious accident before any action is taken.

Mr Smith said: “I have been looking into this and trying to get some action for four years now since I joined the county council.

“We put forward a scheme in 2015 but it was dismissed by the council. Two years on and we are in the exact same position.

“Parents now have a really genuine concern, at school times it is like Lakeside at Christmas around the school.”

Speed reduction and traffic prevention on The Knares was considered by the Basildon Local Highways Panel in 2015, but it was concluded that average speeds were too high for a 20mph zone.

Latests statistics available show that between 2012 and 2015, there were five accidents on the road, two involving schoolchildren. Susan Pearson, 43, who has two daughters at the school, said: “It has been exactly the same for the last three years I have been at the school. And it is worrying, between the speed and the parking there will be an accident. People jump curbs and park in the bus stop,.”

A spokesperson for Essex Highways said: “A 20’s Plenty scheme can be considered for Lee Chapel Primary School. The best way to take these concerns forward is to approach the Basildon Local Highways Panel where members can consider whether to fund this project as a priority.”