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Original poster

Stuck in the middle school parking dispute

80 replies

KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:17

So. We walk to school, as do many children who go to our school, I would estimate about 75% ish do. It's a tiny catchment area.

The school is also in an area surrounded by old houses with almost no parking.

The people in the surrounding Streets have been complaining to the school about parents parking on the roads surrounding the school. The school have sent several emails asking parents to be considerate with Parking.

The local residents have decided this is not good enough so loads of them have started leaving their bins out to block the road.

I absolutely get both sides, some parents need to drive to school and there is very little parking, but it's annoying have school cars block up the road.

However those of us who walk are now really struggling, we are having to try and move round parked cars and bins, especially hard for anyone with a pram, I don't even know how anyone in a wheelchair would manage at all. Lots of us end up having to walk in the road, this is asking for an accident.

I honestly don't know what the answer is but it's so annoying.

The school say they are speaking to the residents to try and find a solution but I honestly don't know what they can do.

OP posts:
WingBingo · 07/10/2020 18:20

Sounds like my village! The local busy bodies post pictures on fb of the parents who are parked perfectly legally.

Stay out of it, stay safe and inwardly laugh at people who have nothing better to do.

Liftupthereceiver · 07/10/2020 18:24

Twas ever thus. I have never worked in any school where this was not an issue and lots of time was spent discussing options that will never work. Despite school attempts and resident attempts, there will always be a hardcore group of parents who think the rules should not apply to them. (I do wonder why anyone would live by a school and think this wouldn't be an issue). And for every parent who will "only be 2 minutes" - they are the 23rd person that week who said the same thing. Schools pull their hair out, but can't bollock parents, so it just goes on, unless the council do restricted parking.

Someonesayroadtrip · 07/10/2020 18:24

Sounds like my previous school/area. No suggestions but a nightmare for everyone.so dangerous.

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Original poster
KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:27

The thing is from what I can see the majority are parking legally, but hardly any of the homes have drive ways (very old cottagey houses). So the roads are packed.

OP posts:
SaltyAndFresh · 07/10/2020 18:27

If parking isn't restricted to those with residential parking permits then I suggest parents, especially those being forced to walk in the road, contact the community policing team. If people want a private parking space they should consider that when agreeing to rent or buy.

justanotherneighinparadise · 07/10/2020 18:31

Could you write a letter, make duplicates and then post them through the residents door explaining you are sympathetic however they are endangering the children of those who walk to school?

museumum · 07/10/2020 18:33

How are bins on the pavement preventing parking on the road?
Is the road actually blocked by the parking or is it just that residents can’t get a space at those times?
If the former then they need double yellows on one side or something. If the latter then tough - the spaces will all be available again ten mins after the bell.

DailyLotion · 07/10/2020 18:36

I don't understand how bins "saving" parking spaces affect the use o f the pavements?

Original poster
KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:36

The school have tried that. Saying that's it's not encouraging people to walk to school as they are making it dangerous. Seems to be falling on deaf years. Some parents of kids in the school do actually live in the road, but they are mainly small two bed houses so not many families in them.

Next step might be the police but not sure what they can do about bins on the road. It's hard to describe it, but it's a very old narrow road so if bins are out and cars park right up (sometimes even on) the pavement it's very hard to get though.

OP posts:
Original poster
KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:37

They aren't saving spaces, they are leaving the bins out in the narrow pavements to make it difficult to walk up the st.

OP posts:
DailyLotion · 07/10/2020 18:40

What do the residents gain in their objections re parking by blocking the pavements? Is it not just that they have to leave them there on bin day?

TenShortStories · 07/10/2020 18:40

Are the bins even allowed out if it's not bin day? I have a time when the bins have to be back in by every morning, and a time when they shouldn't be put out before every night.

Maybe try the council as they are using their bins to intentionally block the path?

Original poster
KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:41

The residents are saying it's worse now due to staggered drop off. School drop off range from 8.30-9.10. And pick ups from 3-3.40.

OP posts:
Original poster
KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:41

Council could be a good idea.

OP posts:
JanewaysBun · 07/10/2020 18:42

Leaving the bins on the pavement is bonkers as it's not going to affect the car drivers!
Car drivers shouldn't be parking on the pavement even if the bins are annoying - that's on them.

LastGoldenDaysOfSummer · 07/10/2020 18:42

Are the bins on the pavement or the road?

Inconsiderate parents make life a nightmare for residents living near schools. In the town near me they regularly try to get a fire engine down the lanes when the parents are parked. If the fire engine can't pass all the cars get a ticket. seems fair.

Ask your head teacher if that's a possibility.

RandomMess · 07/10/2020 18:42

My only suggestion which has its issues is the school facilitating the setting up of a walking bus. Parents drop off at a point further away from the school and the "volunteers" walk the DC in.

You need many volunteers so there is perhaps a weekly Rita. I would be asking for a donation from the "dropping" parents to the PTA.

I would trial it in the mornings as if the child isn't dropped on time the bus leaves without them. That is more problematic in the afternoon.

Also a one way system for where they would drop off...

Original poster
KANNET · 07/10/2020 18:43

@DailyLotion

What do the residents gain in their objections re parking by blocking the pavements? Is it not just that they have to leave them there on bin day?
They are trying to make things difficult so parents complain to the school and the school "do something"

There is almost nothing the school can do. It's an old area, limited parking and it's not residents only parking.

OP posts:
Bozzle · 07/10/2020 18:46

The school should sort out a drop zone. Called a drop and kiss in the states. Teachers or adults from school stand on safe section of road and meet the kids coming out of cars. Most kids don’t need escorting from the car to the school playground by the parents/ carers. The teacher can. Car driver stops for a minute , kid(s) get out and off the car goes. Simple.
I know you will get some parents or kids where this wouldn’t work but the majority it would be fine.

DailyLotion · 07/10/2020 18:47

As someone who lives opposite a school I can confirm the staggered starts have made it much worse. All the people who justify parking badly because "they'll only be a minute" are still doing it, only now they're there for much longer while they queue or drop off in multiple time slots. I tend to agree with people who say you knew you were buying near a school, but then, the school run problem lasted about 10-15 min!

However, I still don't understand why the residents would leave bins on the pavements in protest at school parking.

FecktheBoss · 07/10/2020 18:49

You need to raise with LA, they can remove the bins from residents - unlikely that they will do this but they can if they decide to.

CaptainCallisto · 07/10/2020 18:51

We had similar here a few years ago, and unfortunately it resulted in a child getting injured (thankfully 'only' a broken leg, but it could have been so much worse!).

The residents campaigned for, and the council granted, residents only parking on the two affected streets, and for the first few months regularly had a traffic warden out there at drop off/pick up. They must have made a bloody fortune in tickets because people were just ignoring the signs.

It's so much better now; parents park in five or six streets slightly further away, so much more spread out and less of a problem than trying to cram everyone in the two nearest the school!

ArnoldBee · 07/10/2020 18:54

I live opposite a school and it can be a nightmare. The local residents need to set up a meeting with their councillor with a proposal. This is what we did and it has made life better.

Chloemol · 07/10/2020 18:59

I would contact your local authority. In my area if bins are left out on non bin days blocking paths and roads we can be fined

They may also be able to sort something about parking

HandfulofDust · 07/10/2020 18:59

The residents should try and get residents only parking - that's what happened down an old street of mine to stop people parking for the station.

They can't try and stop people legally parking down the road by creating a blockade with bins.

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