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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:
Bogofftosomewherehot · 14/10/2022 14:53

you need to hang out at school start and finish and observe for yourself. Ask the neighbours.

No one cares what the restriction are, they only change behaviour when the police or traffic wardens are on patrol and I've seen parents have a go at those trying to enforce the law.

I wouldn't buy next to a school. My mum also lives on a road 1-2 minute walk from a school and they often park across her dropped curb.

thistooshallpass162637 · 14/10/2022 14:53

No way on earth! Don't do it!!

JustLyra · 14/10/2022 14:54

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/

Who has defended it?

Saying that it’s going to happen because it does isn’t the same as saying “it’s ok”.

There’s no point in pretending to the OP that it’s likely to be fine due to enforcement measures when it’s not.

Original poster
catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 14:54

@Orangedaisy that's what we expected- auto fines as there are multiple cameras on the entrance road. It's not a traffic warden situation.

I don't expect the vendor to be honest. Everything from the solicitors will be from the vendors feedback. Do issues/ complains show in searches? Or is it just trees and stuff?

We expect lots of parents standing outside house etc. busy pedestrian wise.

Maybe the cars I saw were people exempt/ teachers?

OP posts:
Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 14/10/2022 14:54

It’ll be a problem. Used to volunteer in a care home, it had its own car park, dropped curb and large signs stating access required 24-7 for ambulance access.
still got blocked every school day, parents even refused to move when ambulances needed emergency access - took the very large and angry manager to get them to shift. They were back again, blocking access at next school drop off/collection.
Some attempted to park in the car park - they got locked in and had to do the walk of shame to request the manager released them. They didn’t do that again. (He was a brilliant, caring manager but built like a rugby quarter back).

Ponderingwindow · 14/10/2022 14:55

It is worth going and watch drop off and pickup for a day.

tillytoodles1 · 14/10/2022 14:55

Park your own car across your drive if you'll need access during those times.

SatinHeart · 14/10/2022 14:55

Chances are it'll be a horror show at drop off and pick-up time OP. Yes I'd go and see for yourself (more than once) before you commit.

We nearly bought a house next to a primary school. It fell through for other reasons, but recently I drove past there at dropoff time and it was horrendous.

PickAnyName · 14/10/2022 14:56

Go round there at the relevant times of day to see for yourself.

Obviously near a school there are going to be parking issues twice a day.

RandomUsernameHere · 14/10/2022 14:56

There are restrictions on the roads near my DCs' primary school but I've only seen the police there once this term. I would go back and visit the house a few times at drop off and pick up times to see how bad it is.

SavingsThreads · 14/10/2022 14:56

I was going to ask if you were London. What borough? Hackney and Islington both very hot on fines. I live next to a primary school (literally next door) and never one had an issue. No-one drives!

FGSWhatNow · 14/10/2022 14:56

Just phone the council and ask them what the situation with the restrictions is! The school near us has roads which are no entry at certain times of the day - it's a scheme that's only been introduced recently. At first drivers were either oblivious to or chose to ignore the restrictions, but cameras have just gone up to start sending FPNs to anyone flouting the rules. Now that the no entry is being enforced there's been a gradual reduction in cars going through. If it's a new scheme it might still be "bedding in"; if it's been there for a while and / or it's not being properly enforced, you might have a problem on your hands, as evidenced by the parking you've witnessed yourself. Also consider that if the restrictions are enforced, whether that itself will cause you a problem. Residents near our local school have complained about their deliveries and visitors being inconvenienced by the no entry rules.

guestusername · 14/10/2022 14:57

It will be hell. I don’t even live on the school road itself but the road off it and even with a dropped kerb, single yellow lines and a car on the drive they still park over my drive and on occasion, on my drive. If I ask them to move I’m the one who gets abuse because me wanting to get on or off my drive is an inconvenience to them, despite them being parked illegally. There are parking restrictions between 8-5 but that means nowt

And yes, they come for pick up anything up to 45 minutes beforehand so they can “get a good space”

reigatecastle · 14/10/2022 14:57

Stellaris22 · 14/10/2022 13:42

As someone with a child at a primary school (we walk) I would say parking during pick up/collection is pretty much guaranteed to be terrible and congested.

Parents will ignore any signs and park wherever there is space. Plus the idling engines noise.

All of this.

But will it actually affect you? Will you be there, or will you be at work?

Do you need to go out at those times? We just adjust what we do so we avoid going out at school drop off and pick up times. It can be a bit annoying but we chose to live here (down the road from two primary schools).

ilovecherries · 14/10/2022 14:57

Work on assumption it will be a problem for 30 mins in morning and nearer an hour in the evening. Mornings tend to be stop and run but afternoon will be a nightmare with cars parked across your drive, probably people peering into your windows and others sitting with their engine running and music blaring. If they smoke, there is a good chance they will get out of their car and sit on your wall to do so, leaving the ends in your garden. If the kids walk unsupervised some will bang your letter box and chuck rubbish in your garden. Some parents will lift kids up to walk along your wall. Many parents will be rude and refuse to move. Pavements will also be blocked so don’t expect to take a buggy or wheelchair along the pavement. If there are school buses as well, it will be even better. We lived in a house next to a primary school for four years, let’s just say the holidays were bliss.

reigatecastle · 14/10/2022 14:58

And yes, they come for pick up anything up to 45 minutes beforehand so they can “get a good space

Oh yes. Even though they probably only live ten minutes' walk away...

Theonlyoneiknow · 14/10/2022 14:59

Every week there is an email from our school asking people not to obstruct driveways .... it's horrendous. Also people sit for 20 mins plus with their engine idling while they wait. If you can handle twice daily mayhem - parking/schools bells/engines idling/children playing then fine - otherwise avoid!

Anjo2011 · 14/10/2022 14:59

There may be restrictions but there may as well not be. Parking will be a problem as some parents don’t give a monkeys. Outside of school hours and holidays I doubt you will experience issues. It’s whether you can deal during those times. Is this the only question mark over the house ?

reigatecastle · 14/10/2022 15:00

Residents near our local school have complained about their deliveries and visitors being inconvenienced by the no entry rules

Yes I've never quite understood how these restrictions are meant to work. Even dustbin lorries! Our bin was emptied about 5 minutes after peak school pick-up times yesterday afternoon.

purpledagger · 14/10/2022 15:03

My local authority has cameras on roads with access restrictions and you get a fine. I didn't realise one had been installed and got a warning letter from the council stating I'd be fined next time.

It wouldn't put me off, if the road was otherwise okay. I think your best bet is to visit during the school run and see for yourself. You need to do a couple of days in case there is something going on at the school which means it's particularly busy or quiet.

Original poster
catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 15:03

We couldn't get the same house for the same Money where we live. So it's more setting the right expectations.

Seeing all the signs and cameras I expected auto fines and very limited cars. But I don't know now 🤷🏻‍♀️

I also thought parking across a drop curb was illegal. But sounds like school mums don't care about that...

OP posts:
SunflowerSmith · 14/10/2022 15:04

Sadly a big percentage of parents ignore parking restrictions, I'm currently on the designated car park for our school to collect my kids and have just driven past several cars blocking drives and parking on double yellow lines despite there being at least 30 more empty spaces on this car park, the school sends texts and letters out most weeks about it and asks parents to use this car park.

To get to the school from here I have to walk past 10 houses, it's less than 2 minutes yet the parents have chosen to park there and save a few seconds.

They even park opposite the car park which makes it a nightmare to pull out of, they are so lazy they can't be bothered to walk across one, quiet road.

You can't argue with stupid.

Blossomtoes · 14/10/2022 15:05

Did you not think of this when you viewed the house? I wouldn’t have even looked at it.

Ellie56 · 14/10/2022 15:06

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

Trust me it will cause a lot of problems.

Parents are so entitled they just ignore any restrictions or manage to get themselves exempt from any restrictions. It will do your head in so I would look elsewhere.

zighead · 14/10/2022 15:09

I live near a school and although it's annoying sometimes, you should be able to adapt.
I don't leave or go back to my house for the twenty manic minutes in the morning and the twenty plus manic minutes in the afternoon. It's hardly the biggest deal!
I've only had one or two people parking over my drive but it hasn't affected me in any way.