FIVE years is how long a St Albans school claims it has been waiting to have double yellow lines painted outside its premises to improve the safety of its pupils.

Fleetville Infant School has been trying to prevent cars from stopping outside its gates on Royal Road to reduce the risk of accidents when children are arriving and leaving school on foot.

And after a public consultation was held last year on the plans to paint double yellow lines, which would prevent parking at any time, the school was assured by Herts county council (HCC) they would be put in place by spring.

But there has still been no sign of the parking restrictions and now a local councillor who has been working with the school has called for HCC to take immediate action.

Chris White, St Albans district councillor for Clarence ward, said: “It is important to keep the way reasonably clear so we do not get young pedestrians and cars merging together.

“I want them to make sure very speedily that what they promised is undertaken. They need to treat it as a top priority.”

Headteacher Androulla Peek said: “We had some concerns about road use and traffic outside out school at the beginning and end of the day. For the last five years we have been trying to get yellow lines and zig-zags extended without much success.

“We are worried about the safety of the children and we are worried about accidents as we have had some near misses.

“Five years is not acceptable. We want it resolved as soon as possible.”

A spokesman for HCC said the marking was delayed following objections from local residents from an informal consultation in 2010, and then they were held up by a second consultation that started at the end of last year.

He said: “This consultation has now finished and the council is working with the school and local member to finalise arrangements around the school crossing before the new markings can be put in place.”