A SIX-MONTH parking ban at four Renfrewshire schools will be implemented next year after councillors backed plans to clamp down on irresponsible driving.

From January until June, parking will be forbidden at the start and end of the school day in the immediate areas around Barsail Primary, in Erskine, and Lochfield Primary, St Catherine’s Primary and St Charles Primary, all in Paisley.

Teachers will be expected to follow the rules, as will parents dropping off and picking up children, but Renfrewshire Council is supplying each school with emergency passes which can be given to staff who need to park nearby.

The exclusion zones were approved by councillors on the infrastructure, land and environment board.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, board convener, said: “I believe this is a step in the right direction.

“We know how important this is because safety is paramount.”

Park Moor will be a no-go zone for those travelling to Barsail Primary, while Quarry Road will be blocked to drivers heading to Lochfield Primary.

For St Catherine’s Primary, the streets that will be off limits are Brabloch Crescent and Netherhill Road, with Rowan Street shut as a result of the new rules at St Charles Primary.

The restrictions will be in place from 8.30am until 9.15am at all four schools, as well as between 2.30pm and 3.15pm at the three Paisley primaries and 2.45pm to 3.30pm at Barsail Primary.

Any driver who enters or exits the zones during these times could be issued with a fixed penalty notice.

If the pilot scheme is deemed to be successful in deterring careless parking and congestion, it could be rolled out to other schools.

Roads staff will monitor the number of penalties handed out, issues raised by schools, near misses and accidents and any increase in walking and cycling.