IT could be the end of the school run in parts of York.

New tactics are being considered to try to stop parents clogging up the streets outside York schools with their cars.

Measures to control parking and manage traffic at four city schools are about to be put before councillors, who are expected to approve them.

City of York Council officials believe further improvements to the school safety zones at Rawcliffe, Osbaldwick, Derwent and Wigginton Primary Schools would help to ease the problems caused by parents taking their children close to the schools by car.

At each school, high levels of traffic are seen where parents "indiscriminately" park on junctions and roads close by.

Each is currently the subject of a 20mph order, but council chiefs have talked to the head teacher at each of the schools to find new ways of clearing roads during rush hours.

Reports for a planning meeting on August 11 advocate introducing "no waiting" restrictions outside the schools in an effort to persuade parents to park further away to drop off or pick up their youngsters.

At Rawcliffe, this would mean putting double yellow lines in Eastholme Drive and Westholme Drive as well as refreshing the school "keep clear" zigzag lines

At Osbaldwick, zigzig lines would be introduced between The Leyes and Hambleton Avenue - with a no-stopping order between 8.30am and 9.30pm and 3pm and 4pm on Monday to Friday. Double yellow lines would also be placed at "particularly hazardous locations".

At Derwent, double yellow lines, extending the zigzag markings and increasing the footway outside the school would all help to address road safety problems.

At Wigginton, the present "keep clear" marking would be replaced with double yellow lines - extending to the existing yellow lines with Back Lane. This would include a section of Greenshaw Drive where there are currently no restrictions.

In each case, councillors will be asked to approve the proposals and give the go-ahead to advertise a traffic regulation order, informing the communities of the measures planned.

Carol Runciman, the council's executive member for education, said it was vital that children exercised daily, and the traffic controls were a good opportunity to cut car use and boost fitness levels among pupils.

She said: "If the family do not live too far away, we want to encourage people to walk wherever possible. We know that fit and healthy children learn better."

Coun Runciman added: "The biggest difficulty is when parents are working and have to go on somewhere else. Then that's a challenge and time gets very tight.

"I understand that. But we want to get children to cycle or walk wherever we can."

Updated: 11:42 Saturday, August 06, 2005