"Dangerous and unacceptable" parking near two primary schools is putting children in danger, it's been claimed, prompting calls for action.

Aspire, a special needs school, opened on Archers Park, a new housing development built by Redrow, just outside Sittingbourne, in 2020.

It is a short walk to Grove Park primary school, with some parents parking on the estate to walk to Grove Park in Hilton Drive, and there are a number of businesses based in offices on the development.

Speeding traffic and parked cars are causing concerns and there are fears a child could get hurt.

A spokesman for Aspire said: "When we opened in 2020, our site manager at the time pushed to have yellow lines painted outside the school, but they were only done on one side of the road.

"The parking opposite the school gates is a hazard for parents, staff and visitors, as when they exit the car park they are forced onto the wrong side of the road to turn right.

"Traffic travels far too fast around the roundabout nearby entering Archers Park and near-misses have occurred, so we are in complete support of the residents of Archers Park in pushing for parking restrictions along Vellum Drive, together with speed bumps."

Parents are also worried, with one, Anna Dewhurst, insisting: "Cats have been killed and children nearly hit by cars crossing the road because of the appalling way the vehicles are parked.

"I also won't allow my children to play outside during the working day on half-term breaks because of the awful driving and unsafe parking."

Mum Olga Valeanu says she worries about the safety of her daughter and others.

The 43-year-old added: "Some roads are so jammed that sometimes you just can’t see a child walking out with the lack of visibility, and that’s why there definitely needs to be double yellow lines."

Vellum Drive resident John Day, 65, thinks the lack of parking restrictions on the estate is puzzling.

He said: "I think it’s very unusual to have a road with no restrictions in a residential area.

“I haven’t received a response after complaining how dangerous people park, especially parents who have to walk in the road with pushchairs, so it’s certainly irritating.

“Whenever we have visitors, they have to park so far away because there is just nowhere nearby for them.”

Another local, Steve Hagiannis, is concerned something even more serious could arise. He said: "Unless something is done, there will be a terrible accident there one day."

Meanwhile, a Sittingbourne councillor has described parking in the area as "dangerous" and "unacceptable."

Cllr James Hunt (Con), who represents The Meads ward, said: "There have always been problems on the development.

"The way people are parking is unacceptable, and it is not only causing a nuisance to residents, but is at times dangerous to other road users and pedestrians.

"I think it needs double yellow lines on the bends of the road because there are safety concerns there, so that really needs to be done.

"If there are yellow lines then it has to be all the roads on that development, otherwise it's going to cause problems for residents in other roads.

"I can confirm that the roads on Archers Park have indeed been adopted by Kent County Council, and are no longer under the management of the developer, so I am in discussions with them to investigate what parking restrictions can be implemented."

When asked for a response regarding restrictions, a spokesman for KCC said: “On-street parking is managed by district and borough councils so, in this case, it would be for Swale Borough Council, not KCC, to implement any new parking restrictions.

“Anyone wishing to establish a residents’ parking scheme can find the details on Swale Borough Council’s own website.

“If such a scheme is implemented, Swale’s enforcement team would be responsible for monitoring it and issuing penalty charges, if appropriate.

However, a spokesman for Swale council said: “The introduction of parking restrictions, such as double yellow lines, to tackle highway safety and obstruction issues, comes under KCC as the highway authority.

“We, as the borough council, can consider the implementation of other on-street waiting restrictions, such as residents’ parking schemes, but would seek a majority support from residents for any new proposals through a petition submitted via their local councillor.

“If Kent County Council was proposing any new waiting restrictions which could negatively impact on the parking situation in surrounding roads, we would look to work with them to ensure a holistic approach and prevent further problems through vehicle displacement.”