FURIOUS parents have clashed with the council over a decision to charge them for a parking permit allowing them to drop their children off at school.

The scheme, designed to alleviate traffic congestion around St Osmund's Primary School, on Carmelite Way, Salisbury, has sparked outrage among parents, who have to pay £25 a year to park in Lacock House for up to 30 minutes at the beginning and end of the school day.

The council is dispatching extra parking ambassadors to patrol the area and has threatened to withdraw the permits altogether if cars are illegally parked.

But disgruntled parents have branded the scheme ill-conceived, saying many will choose to leave their children further from the school gate.

"St Osmund's is a Catholic school which takes children from as far away as Downton and the north of Salisbury," said angry parent Tony Schendel.

"It seems ludicrous to have this scheme at a school where many parents have no choice but to drive.

"There is no problem now, the car park fills up 10 minutes before school and by 9.15 it's empty again.

"We've been told that, if this scheme doesn't work, they will scrap it altogether and only give us four drop-off spaces.

"We have a legal responsibility to get our children to school on time but they seem intent on making it difficult."

Fellow parent Dave Roberts added: "£25 is all residents pay to park in the city centre at any time and these permits are the same price for just for an hour a day. There has been no consultation - it's just been imposed on us like another tax.

"Lots of parents can't or won't pay it.

"They will drop their children off in other places and not see them into school any more - it's madness."

But ward councillor Simon Howarth said the permit scheme was designed to make children safer.

"Since the school was remodelled with access from Carmelite Way, there have been serious concerns about safety," he said.

"It is very difficult to manoeuvre when parents park all over the place.

"Now they will all use the car park.

"There was an open meeting to discuss it in May, which parents were invited to attend.

"To say £25 is unreasonable is nonsense - all the money will be spent on projects for the Friary community, who are allowing parents to use what is a private car park.

"This scheme will be rigorously enforced but I shall make sure there is another meeting to discuss it after a trial period."

The council's transportation officer, Graham Wright, said his team had been asked to facilitate a scheme by residents, the school and councillors.

"We have not imposed anything," he said.

"We were responding to a direct request from the local community."