AIBU to think schools should not threaten parents with not allowing vehicular access to the school and with clamping if this doesn't work?

[TattyDevine]

They have some double yellow lines for the school bus. I wholeheartedly agree that people shouldn't park on them, as the school bus does need to park somewhere. But people do occasionally. There is no signage saying don't park there. The school do not yet own the land (its a Public Private Partnership type arrangement).

They have threatened parents who park on them that they will have a note left on their windscreen and a 2nd offence means they will not be allowed to drive into the school. Who on earth would enforce this? Would the police even be interested?

In addition to this, the headteacher ended the note by saying "if this more draconian approach does not work, we may take up the offer from a parent to introduce clamping". I thought since October 2012 clamping on private property was considered unlawful?

Or am I wrong about that?

The head teacher also asks parents not to park on the grass verge opposite the school (which is the highways agency responsibility and nothing to do with the school and not private property) because it leads to complaints from the parish council and local residents. But they don't own this land, and it is not illegal to park there.

I find it slightly worrying that a head teacher would threaten parents with something unlawful, regardless of their bad behaviour, without checking the legal position first. What are your views on this? Do double yellow lines on private property even have any legal weight? (I'm pretty sure they don't without signage).

Just for the record, I never park on the double yellows, because its obvious the bus needs to park there, but I am still left dumbfounded by the bizarre rant.

AIBU?

[noblegiraffe]

You said there is no signage saying don't park there, but double yellows are signage to say don't park there.

Hopefully parents will take heed without anyone having to do anything further.

[GlaikitFizzog]

I thought clamping had been banned In England now? It's the case in Scotland

[bodygoingsouth]

my dd and her friends were badly injured on a school trip.

as it was covered by media world wide you would assume that parents at the school wouldn't park in the disabled bays as some of the girls were in wheel chairs and some on crutches so needed to use them.

no at both that school and now the senior school some lazy bastard fuck wits will still park in the disabled bays.

the HT valued the police and got the cars towed after repeated warnings.

people can be absolute scum bags.

so glad to hear your head has balls op.

[GlaikitFizzog]

yep, can't clamp I private land anymore! ip misinformed empty threats mean they are blustering.

But parents should not park in an area clearly designated for the school bus. A name and shame newsletter would probably suffice.

[TattyDevine]

They need a traffic order to have double yellows, but agree parents should not park there. That said, there are no disabled bays, and I think disabled people are allowed to park on double yellows? For 15 minutes or something?

[Inglori0us]

Private land parking fines are unenforceable.
Parents are obviously parking inconsiderately and the school is rightly trying to do something about it.
I live very close to a primary and the disrespect parents show to local residents and road rules is appalling and dangerous.
I don't see why people can't park 5 minutes walk away. Lazy I guess.

[GlaikitFizzog]

Double yellow lines are instantly recognised in the uk as "do not park". Signage, in addition to this is by the by. Police can't enforce parking restrictions on private land.

What the school should do is change the doing le yellows to Bis Parking Only, as busses shouldn't park on double yellows either, so some of the more ignorant parents might just see the bus parking there and thinking it's ok.

[Mojang]

I can't get beyond there being no "signage" when there are yellow lines.

imo anyone selfish enough to be caught parked badly twice should bo too ashamed to show their face in school but it doesn't work like that, there's always a reason they're more important than everyone else

[ouryve]

Grass verge isn't public highway, so you're probably not supposed to park there.
What's wrong with walking a 2 minute walk down the road? Unless you have a disability, it's not going to hurt to walk that far, even if it's raining.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

We have a constant problem at my school with parents who think that they should be the exception to the 'NO parking/dropping off' in the school car park. It's a joint mainstream and special school site and there are multiple mini buses and taxis every morning, plus parents who have wheelchair accessible vehicles for their children (who are obviously allowed to park in the disabled spaces) and STILL mainstream parents think it's ok to park up, block taxis, etc

The two school heads have taken to standing at the entrance to the school and physically blocking access!

I can't imagine it would be legal to clamp anyone in your school, but FFS why can't people just obey the rules..they are there for a reason!

[TattyDevine]

So the fact that its private land (and it is, as its not yet owned by the school) makes the double yellows, any fines or sanctions, and the threat of clamping, a nonsense?

My main concern is that the head teacher didn't check the legal stance before sending out the rant, which was also signed by the Chair of Governors. The intention was good - they want a safe and fair parking situation but this nearly made me inhale my peppermint tea...

[Picturesinthefirelight]

Ds's school out a lift up barrier & security man at the entrance of the car park so parents can no longer park there due to repeated incidents of dangerous driving.

[hootloop]

I have never known a school where parents can drive on to site.

[Blu]

Private land fines are enforceable again now, if there is a notice with the right wording, telling you you are entering into a contract in parking there, or some such stuff. It's been updated.

[bumbumsmummy]

I think it's more unreasonable for parents to park so inconsiderately the head needs to issue such warnings

[ScentedScandal]

They should have got their legal facts straight if what you are saying is right or their argument loses credibility. And it's a very valid argument. The parking of some parents in and around schools is downright dangerous at worst and inconsiderate at best and needs tackling.

[ouryve]

But why can't you walk 2 minutes down the road, Tatty? Why do you particularly need to park on site, to the point where you want to nitpick at the rules laid down?

[GlaikitFizzog]

None of the usual Double Yellow rules apply though, they've just painted them to stop parking because it's easily recognised. They could paint the lines all the colours of the rainbow if they liked. The threat of clamping has made the head look very naive, but they are trying to deal with a tricky situation (see the multiple school parking threads on here to confirm its highly charged nature). Perhaps a group of parent to form a parking committee and marshall the car park until everyone tows the line?

I find it hard to believe there is no disabled parking at the school though

[TattyDevine]

This is what I know about grass verges seems okay www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q655.htm

[K999]

Any inconsiderate or potentially dangerous driving/parking is an offence.

And presumably the head is doing what he/she can to keep pupils safe?? Not sure why you think this is a bad thing??

[TattyDevine]

www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q655.htm

[TattyDevine]

K999 I don't think its a bad thing if they are doing it correctly, but if they are not, it concerns me what else they are not doing correctly.

[GlaikitFizzog]

Even when the land is owned by the school it's still private land, same argument still applies.

Suggest you walk, less stressful!

[GlaikitFizzog]

Sorry, is this a grass verge they are parking on? Not a car park?

[hairylittlegoblin]

No the headteacher cannot enforce it but I bet she's sick to the back teeth of selfish, lazy parents who think that road rules around the school gates don't apply to them. It's a school, kids are crossing, don't park there.

The issue isn'g the legality. The issue is the people parking where they shouldn't.