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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:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 14/10/2022 15:09

It will be a pain in the arse. Sorry. People have no respect for-pick up times, or where they park, because their little darlings can't walk for half a mile down the road to the nearest car park.

I would seriously reconsider buying. Or drop your offer and then put up with it. But again, this may affect you being able to sell the house on.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 14/10/2022 15:10

This is no help whatsoever sorry @catlady1234 but no way in HELL would I buy a house opposite a primary school - or secondary. UNLESS I didn't drive/didn't have a car, and all the shops and amenities and all my family were fairly close by (like walking distance, or a short hop on a bus.)

JustLyra · 14/10/2022 15:11

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...

The big question is - will it actually impact you negatively?

We were here before there was an access path to the new school. Several neighbours have moved because they hated not being able to just pop out last minute between 8 and 9 because of traffic.

For us it made no difference. Our kids actually ended up being able to walk to school. We just park our car over our drive if we need out at busy times.

The benefit of the new school, the new park and the activities in the school building (brownies, Cubs, etc) is well worth it for us and other families in our street and the next. For those without kids the parking combined with the noise at break times etc absolutely isn’t worth it.

HundredMilesAnHour · 14/10/2022 15:11

Don't buy the house!! I live opposite a school and it's an absolute nightmare. The parents are awful (and some of the kids aren't much better). They block the entire road and bring it to a standstill. They block doors, gates, entrances, pavements, they even stand waiting in the middle of the road and block other traffic and don't even try to move when cars want to actually, you know, drive along the road. I hate them. The staggered start and end times make it even worse as it feels like this hell goes on for hours.

ItsJustASimpleLine · 14/10/2022 15:12

It will be a huge problem it always is you have to balance that with the love for the house.

As others have said go at school drop/pick up and see. Best example will be a rainy day.

Angip3 · 14/10/2022 15:14

dont forget parents evenings, xmas events, assemblies wont be covered by those restrictions as they will be outside drop off hours.
Assemblies can be weekly for each year group

sunshinesupermum · 14/10/2022 15:14

From what you've written there is no way I would buy that house - the primary school's proximity is the reason you can afford it but the policing of parking on your driveway/blocking it, illegal though it is, will not be high on the police's list.

Motnight · 14/10/2022 15:17

We live opposite a primary school. Don't have a drive. Only resident cars allowed in and out of the road in theory during drop off and pick up times. I don't know how this is enforced.

It was horrendous during covid as parents weren't allowed in the school at all and blocked the path and roads by just standing talking for a long time, completely oblivious to the fact that residents needed to leave and enter their homes. It is the only time that I have made a complaint to the school in 20 years.

The only annoying thing now is that my Ocado shopping cannot be booked for certain times as the van won't get access!

ExcaliburBaby · 14/10/2022 15:20

If you buy the house then buy it with the knowledge and understanding that selfish parents WILL ignore any restrictions and park where they like. It’s universal and if it’s anything like our school, regular appeals by the school to not park inconsiderately will
be ignored. Depends if you can ignore/tolerate it or not.

Catflapping · 14/10/2022 15:22

I live on the same road as a primary school and the entitlement of some parents is unreal! It’s never been a problem before as I worked 8-4 but now I’m on maternity leave with my own child to get to school (not the one on our road frustratingly, we moved when he was 7) I quite often come home to someone blocking the drive, I usually just take a photo and then do another lap of the block. I shouldn’t have to but I now opposite an outstanding primary school and down the road from an outstanding secondary so see it as the price I have to pay unfortunately! I have contacted the safer neighbourhood police team and send them my pictures, they say that they will speak to drivers and I do see them doing the occasional patrol but it doesn’t stop. If you know you need to leave during pick up and drop off times I would park across your own drive!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/10/2022 15:22

Are your DC going to go to this school?

Are you okay with the noise ? I don't live near a school but a couple of places I work at at next to Primaries ( carparking not an issue ) the noise

They scream . Constantly at morning drop off . Break. Lunch. Afternoon break . Pick up.
Not laughing or shouting but blood curdling , like they're being flayed , screaming .

reigatecastle · 14/10/2022 15:27

Angip3 · 14/10/2022 15:14

dont forget parents evenings, xmas events, assemblies wont be covered by those restrictions as they will be outside drop off hours.
Assemblies can be weekly for each year group

We don't notice it's worse then but the one time it is mad is when there's a school fair.

Haribosweets · 14/10/2022 15:28

I guarantee 100% it will be an issue. All schools regardless of primary, secondary all have parking issues. They will park on yellow lines, in driveways and across junctions. Unless you are happy for this or can be out between 8am - 9.30am and 2pm - 4pm I would not pursue the move. Good luck whatever you decide though 😀

reigatecastle · 14/10/2022 15:29

tillytoodles1 · 14/10/2022 14:55

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

I can't do that because I would be caught myself by the traffic wardens! But I plan appointments so they are not around those times and to be fair the only time I wasn't able to get back into my drive was because two delivery vans had parked opposite each other, not because of the parents.

PlanningTowns · 14/10/2022 15:29

The parking will not be regularly enforced and your drive will be blocked, probably daily at drop off and pick up. I walk to school and am horrified how people park around our school and the lack of respect they have for the neighbours.

Shinyhappyperson22 · 14/10/2022 15:29

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...

Not just school parents live near some small shops and people park across our dropped kerb even with our car there, all the time. People just don’t give a shit! if it’s saves them a few metres of walking then they do it.

Would not want to live near a school.

PyongyangKipperbang · 14/10/2022 15:31

This will be why your vendors are selling......

CatchYouOnTheFlippetyFlop · 14/10/2022 15:32

Please don't be one of them who moves by a school then gets annoyed when it's busy at drop off and pick up🙄

Novum · 14/10/2022 15:32

Can I find out if they are policed?

Ask the neighbours and the council. But remember that, if they are policed now, that won't necessarily continue. You really need to work on the basis that the likelihood is that school parking will be problematic and decide whether that is a deal-breaker.

YellowTreeHouse · 14/10/2022 15:34

The signs and cameras will do nothing. It won’t be enforced.

Cars will drive up and down the road and they will park across and even on the drive if it’s empty.

Every. Single. Day.

Original poster
catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 15:34

@PyongyangKipperbang they have lived there for 15 years.... so I guess your random negative point is useless??

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 14/10/2022 15:35

I wouldn’t touch with barge pole. If you go at pick up and drop off time you will see what it’s like.

WetAndRainy · 14/10/2022 15:35

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

It is if it blocks a car from the road and no parents don't.

I've also seen parents park on other people's drive.

It will mainly be an issue school days morning and evening - but school parent teacher evenings, open days, school plays other events can happen and depending on school may be outside school hours and may also have problems.

I've only seen parking enforced sporadically - but never seen cameras up - if they were being fined though I image most wouldn't be doing it so going and seeing morning and mid afternoon to see what it is like - if that's possible.

Goldencarp · 14/10/2022 15:36

We live in a road with the school at the end. For years I’ve had people park blocking the drive so at considerable cost we extended the drive and had a dropped curb put all the way across. Between our dropped curb and next doors dropped curb there were 2 curb stones so people parked there blocking half our drive and enough of next doors that they couldn’t get out. I left notes, I waited outside the house at drop off and pick up, nothing worked. I spoke to the council who put an H bar outside. Still they parked there. In the end I’d go out every day and put My car there so I could go and pick my own children up from a different school. Last year we had the dropped curb extended further so it joins next doors and finally no one parks there!

Original poster
catlady1234 · 14/10/2022 15:37

@YellowTreeHouse
Most camera restrictions are auto fines in London. If a £100 x 2 a day fine is not going to put people off, if be shocked.

But if the cameras don't work and people know and don't care, that's a different story 🤷🏻‍♀️
Unless I drive down myself and see if I get a fine?

OP posts:
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