IT MIGHT be one of the smaller schools, but parents at Glennie Heights State School say it shouldn't mean their children's safety comes last.

At last week's council engineering services meeting, parking issues at the school - as well as outside the Warwick Hospital - were raised by Cr Jo McNally.

Cr McNally said parents had come to her with concerns about the adequacy of parking along Gillam St, saying it could become worse when a new kindergarten year is introduced in 2012.

Yesterday, parents at the school echoed those concerns.

Mum Joann Cristina said there were a number of changes that could be made to make the surrounding roads safer.

"We need car parks marked out on the road - sometimes cars park in places that could fit two cars in. It would save a lot of space," she said.

"It would be good if we had a lollipop lady and a pedestrian crossing (across Gillam St).

"Some of the children don't look at all before they cross the road."

Ms Cristina said parking problems could be reduced if bus services were more frequent and ran to schedule.

There had been some improvement, she added, when the speed limit around the school was dropped to 20kmh.

When asked about what action council would take, a spokeswoman said the school zone requirements were being looked into.

"The state provides a small amount of funding each year for safety around schools," she said. "With about 50 schools in the region it only pays for a small project at one school each year.

"The state does not provide any funding to pay for the effects on parking, roads and stormwater from improvements at schools or other state facilities. They also do not pay headworks charges for water and sewerage."

She added council had had "no contact at all" from the school or parents and citizens group.

Meanwhile, comments came thick and fast following the Daily News story about parking issues at Warwick Hospital on October 19, with all commentators opposed to the idea of paid parking.

"SDRC Please try and keep the country town atmosphere in our growing city," said one.