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Original poster

Parking at new house

191 replies

catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 13:39

Hi,

We are in the process of buying a new house.
The house is opposite a primary school. I have some concerns about the parking,

The road has access time restrictions during pick up and drop off times (with signs & cameras) How can I check if they are being enforced? Iv noticed lots of cars driving down the road during the restricted times.

Also the house has a drive and dropped curb. Most of the neighbours don't have drives. When passing iv noticed people parking completely across the drive. How can I find out if this is a big problem? Can I find out if current resident has had to make a lot of official complaints (calls to council etc)

I'm worried it's going to cause of a lot of problems.

Thanks

OP posts:
ithoughtisawapuddycat · 14/10/2022 14:18

If I had a drive, the issue probably wouldn't bother me too much. DH and I both leave for work by 7.30am and home after 4pm. Sounds like they are already doing lots to try and stop things.

Justleaveitblankthen · 14/10/2022 14:19

@blacksax Oh, I'm so making a note of this and don't live anywhere near a school.
Are we evil? 😂😈

DisforDarkChocolate · 14/10/2022 14:21

Work on the assumption you drive will be blocked for 30 minutes twice a day. Add to that when you ask people not to they will ignore you. Add in events like sports days, parents evenings etc too.

If you can cope with this proceed, if you can't drop out now.

SnarkyBag · 14/10/2022 14:23

Agree it’s definitely not just for a short while. I’ve always been baffled by the ones that rock up and park by 2.30!

girlmom21 · 14/10/2022 14:25

It's going to be crap every morning and every afternoon for at least an hour.

Lemonbell · 14/10/2022 14:27

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

LIZS · 14/10/2022 14:36

Ask vendor or neighbours? How often will you be needing quick access during drop-off/pick up? There will be a council responsible for monitoring parking, not necessarily your local one as possibly contracted out.

Original poster
catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 14:39

Sorry I should have made clear that the one way road has signs saying 'no access apart from permit holders between 8-9am and 3-4pm'
There are signs and cameras. So it should be pedestrian during school pick ups.

But when passing the other day I saw a lot of cars coming out of the exit road. How can check if the restrictions are happening?

Obviously this should limit people parking outside our house as they aren't allowed to drive down the road around pick up/ drop off.

We know it will be busy during school pick up/ drop off, we accept that. We don't have school age children and work earlier/ later.

I drove past at 10am today and someone was parked across the drive. It could be at the owners permission? It could be their car?

If I called the council will they tell me about the parking controls? Reports of illegal parking across their drive etc?

Thanks

OP posts:
AriettyHomily · 14/10/2022 14:40

It will be a nightmare.

BackInBlackAgain · 14/10/2022 14:42

I live near a primary school, there are 3 main roads that lead to the school and i live on one of them, i have never had a problem, my drive has never been blocked or had my drive parked on.

Yeah there is a lot of cars parked on the road at the start and end of school but it clears up quickly.

FuchsAndMöhr · 14/10/2022 14:42

catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 14:39

Sorry I should have made clear that the one way road has signs saying 'no access apart from permit holders between 8-9am and 3-4pm'
There are signs and cameras. So it should be pedestrian during school pick ups.

But when passing the other day I saw a lot of cars coming out of the exit road. How can check if the restrictions are happening?

Obviously this should limit people parking outside our house as they aren't allowed to drive down the road around pick up/ drop off.

We know it will be busy during school pick up/ drop off, we accept that. We don't have school age children and work earlier/ later.

I drove past at 10am today and someone was parked across the drive. It could be at the owners permission? It could be their car?

If I called the council will they tell me about the parking controls? Reports of illegal parking across their drive etc?

Thanks

What the restrictions actually are is irrelevant! Unless they are policed, which is unlikely, they will largely be ignore by school parents and it will be carnage twice a day!

TwitcherLady · 14/10/2022 14:43

I live next to a primary with permit parking, restricted times, yellow lines etc etc and none of this matters at school drop off /pick up times. Traffic wardens occasionally come round and watch what's going on, usually after a resident has complained. I actually saw them give a ticket and the mum couldn't care less. She was back the next day parking in the permit area!

hesbeingabitofadick · 14/10/2022 14:43

If it's giving you cause for concern now, I'd be looking for a different house.

Original poster
catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 14:44

@FuchsAndMöhr that's what I'm asking. Can I find out if they are policed? There are cameras on the road. We live in London so it's fairly common that roads are restricted.

But if it's not monitored or policed then it's a different story than what we expect when we went to view the house.

We live the other side of town so I don't know the road that well 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I drive past when doing s food shop etc

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 14/10/2022 14:46

It’s very unlikely they’re policed.

Take a day off and go hang out on the road at 8.15 and 2.45.

BlackberryCat · 14/10/2022 14:46

I’m a little confused. If the parking doesn’t really bother you, then why does it matter if it’s enforced or not? Sorry if I’ve misunderstood.

FuchsAndMöhr · 14/10/2022 14:47

catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 14:44

@FuchsAndMöhr that's what I'm asking. Can I find out if they are policed? There are cameras on the road. We live in London so it's fairly common that roads are restricted.

But if it's not monitored or policed then it's a different story than what we expect when we went to view the house.

We live the other side of town so I don't know the road that well 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I drive past when doing s food shop etc

I would suggest the best bet would be to ask the neighbours. The vendors may not be entirely truthful if they think you may pull out.

I agree with a PP though. If it’s causing an issue at this stage it’s time to reconsider!

Veryworriedhelp · 14/10/2022 14:47

I live right by a primary school and it's mildly irritating at times but mostly fine. Sometimes my friends block my drive way but there's only been a handful of times someone else has done it (and only once when the driver wasn't in the car when I went out to ask them to move) in about 5 years.

The benefit of being able to walk my DS to school so quickly and not having to worry about finding somewhere to park massively outweighs any inconvenience.

mummyh2016 · 14/10/2022 14:48

We get constant emails and texts off the school about parking - regardless of any restrictions it will be an issue.

FriedasCarLoad · 14/10/2022 14:48

I think your solicitor would be in the best position to know how to find out about parking and enforcement etc.

Orangedaisy · 14/10/2022 14:48

Where I live (London) the fines are automatically sent to those who go in the zones who shouldn’t be there, that’s what the cameras are for. But it’s unbelievably easy to get an exemption through the school. A mum I knew wasn’t able to walk from the next street with her kids due to a ‘back problem’ and got an exemption - she was a wedding photographer for a living which meant carrying her kit and being on her feet all day so I was a bit 🤨. You’ll probably find the people who drive in all have exemptions.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 14/10/2022 14:49

I think if you're asking thr question it will be too much of an issue for you.

I'd go a couple of different days in the week... And see roughly how long folk are there.... Hang around and take video and speed it up. Youll see likely patterns of movement...

If you can't do this, why not pay a student to go down for a few hours and take pics?

It's worth it to see.

People Park anywhere....

AmuckAmuckAmuck · 14/10/2022 14:51

Surly the easiest thing is to park up and walk down the road and stand and watch for an hour from half 2 to half 3?

JustLyra · 14/10/2022 14:51

If you’re going to live opposite a primary school then you just, imo, have to accept that between 8 and 9 and then at end school day you’re going to have traffic issues in the street.

expecting anything else is setting yourself up for disappointment because it’s rare for enforcement to be effective every day.

You should also check if there are any other regular pick up times. The street behind ours, for example, used to be very busy again between 5.30 and 6 because there was an after school care that closed at 6.

FredaFox · 14/10/2022 14:52

I can't believe how many people are defending the people who park in front of drives etc
Just don't do it, you wouldn't like it outside your houses
Not sure where you would get policing data op but the restrictions sound ok, it would still potentially put me off though

Amusingly I just saw this on TikTok 😂 vm.tiktok.com/ZMF6HuYtm/