A parish council has launched a campaign to tackle illegal and irresponsible parking before someone dies.

Meopham Parish Council is asking motorists using the village facilities to think before they park, and started a safety campaign on Monday to spread the message.

Children were asked to draw safety messages and the winning design is now on large banners around the village.

The joint venture with Kent county councillor Bryan Sweetland (Con), who has supported the campaign with a £1,200 grant, is set to last six weeks and aims to make drivers who park on double yellow lines by The Parade, in A227 Wrotham Road, and outside Culverstone Green Primary School, Meopham Community Academy and Helen Allison School, more aware of the dangers.

The Parade, known as Camer Parade, has free parking in a long lay-by outside the shops but some drivers still insist on parking on the double yellow lines on the main road, which can block the view of those trying to leave the designated parking area.

Sheila Buchanan, chairman of Meopham Parish Council, said: “It just gets worse and worse year by year. The worst scenario is there is going to be a fatal accident with someone turning right out of Camer Parade and having their vision blocked by vehicles.

“We started because we had so many complaints about illegal and irresponsible parking, especially by schools and by Camer Parade.

“People complain to the parish council about it but there’s nothing we can do.

“We have no powers ourselves to do law enforcement, so we thought we would try to campaign to get people to think about where they park.

“We are just trying to get people to think about it and be more responsible and not just think ‘I’m popping into the shop so it’s ok to park on the double yellow lines’.

“We keep reporting to Gravesham Borough Council to get their parking enforcement officers out, but they don’t have many.

“People still park on the yellow lines when there’s still space to go in.”

Cllr Sweetland said: “Residents are becoming increasingly concerned about the volume and speed of the traffic on the A227.

“I have asked Kent Highways to reduce the speed limit on certain parts of the road.

“Dangerous parking by some motorists on the yellow lines by the bus stop at Camer Parade is also an accident waiting to happen.

“With the possibility that thousands more houses may be built in the Gravesham rural area, the A227 is likely to get a lot busier.”