• South Coogee parents and kids with Cr Philip Eva, who’s pushing for crossing guard.

PARENTS are trying again to get a crossing guard at South Coogee primary school.

The 470-student school does not have a kiss-and-drive and is next to busy Beeliar Drive, a shopping centre, a Coles, a McDonald’s and a petrol station.

Cockburn Labor MP Fran Logan—who tabled in state parliament a 267-signature petition calling for a crossing guard—says parents are having to park in the centre car park and and walk across Ivankovich Avenue to drop their kids off.

“Until four years ago, the school was relatively isolated,” he told the Herald.

“It had a fair amount of bush and scrub around it and parking for dropping off students was not a problem

“However, a commercial shopping centre and other businesses have sprung up,” Mr Logan said.

• Negotiating traffic at South Coogee primary school. Photos by Stephen Pollock

A previous application for a guard was denied on the grounds there weren’t enough vehicles in the area to warrant it, but in rejecting the application the authorities acknowledged pedestrian numbers were high.

Cr Philip Eva says Cockburn council is supporting the P&C  by collecting traffic volume data.

“The council installed a traffic monitor beside the school,” he says.

“We are currently collating information to present to the children’s crossing and road safety committee.

“Works to widen Beeliar Drive will begin in February, so having a crossing guard is imperative.”

Council director Charles Sullivan says the city looked at installing a kiss-and-drive outside the school, but could not find a suitable location.

The P&C submission will come before the road safety committee on December 8.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK