DRIVING instructors have been banned from picking up their pupils at a Northwich college.

Motoring schools have branded the decision 'ridiculous' and are now calling for a meeting with Sir John Deane's College as they do not understand why they have been barred from the campus.

Pete Laws, chairman and founder of Northwich and District Driving Instructors Association (NADDIA), said: "A letter was sent out saying from this term no driving instructors will be allowed on site at all, which I find absolutely ridiculous.

"I go there very often when a pupil's got a free period in the middle of the day and there's only me there.

"What happens if I've got to pick a girl up and it's pouring down with rain and she's got to walk out of the grounds to me?

"I've never had a problem like this before.

"We go to The Grange, St Nicholas High, South Cheshire College and Mid Cheshire College, all of them."

Pete, who set up NADDIA four years ago and has seen it grow to 20 members, said all he had been told was that it was private property.

"They've not given me a logical reason and I want to see what the reason is because it just beggars belief," he said.

Parents' access to the campus has also been restricted to the main car park.

Deputy principal Andy Sumner said: “Ensuring that all our students are happy, safe and successful is at the heart of everything that we do at Sir John Deane’s.

“Over the past few years the number of cars coming on to the campus has increased and we have therefore reluctantly decided to ask drivers not to wait in the turning circle.

“This has improved safety, cut down on congestion and ensures that the hundreds of students on our buses and coaches get away ‘on time’ and the many more pedestrians can leave in a controlled and safe way.

“Our college community is extremely supportive and we are grateful to everyone who has helped the new system to run smoothly.

“We are also lucky enough to have a bigger main car park since the new campus was developed which is there for students and for parents wishing to drive their children to and from college.

"So although we have requested that parents do not wait in the turning circle, there is a large car park available and we are delighted that so many have made use of this facility.”