CONCERNS have been raised that the safety of pedestrians is being compromised by inconsiderate motorists parking outside a Quarry Bank school.

Vehicles parked in the lay-by and carriageway in front of Thorns Primary School obstruct the view of school crossing guards, making it difficult for them to spot oncoming traffic.

Parents and residents are also anxious about motorists exceeding the 30mph speed limit and failing to stop when the traffic lights at the crossing outside the school were on red.

Councillor Mohammed Hanif, who represents Lye and Stourbridge North, called a meeting at the Thorns Road school on Thursday (January 15) to discuss the issue.

He referred to a collision that saw 26-year-old Sartaj Aziz lose his life after he was hit by a lorry travelling along the road in 2013 and added: "I don't want to hear about anything like that happening again. We need to work together and come up with a solution."

Sergeant Lynn Couldrey from the Lye and Stourbridge North Neighbourhood Policing Team said although officers were occasionally able to attend and move on cars that were causing an obstruction, they could not be there on a daily basis.

She offered to write to motorists who repeatedly caused obstructions to make them aware of the problems they were causing.

Headteacher David Priestley said parents were encouraged to park at Stevens Park but many did not feel safe crossing the road because of speeding motorists.

He added: "The road has taken a massive step forward in terms of the speed limit being reduced but people have started to speed up a bit over the last month."

Sgt Couldrey said officers had conducted a speed check over a three day period - two school mornings and one Sunday afternoon - and within a half hour period, 20 vehicles were clocked exceeding the speed limit each day.

She said: "Something certainly needs to be done to make people more aware."

Dudley Council's chief highways engineer Peter Van Geersdaele said he would look to put more road markings and signage in place to remind people of the speed limit, which Cllr Hanif said was "the best way forward".