Parking at new house

[catlady1234]

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

I'd never choose to live near a London school. You will have people parking across your driveway, in your driveway, and generally appalling in all directions. The level of these parents who "will only be a minute" has to be seen to be believed. They literally give not one single fuck about anyone else.

The worse woman at our school was asked to move her car when she parked there because an ambulance was on its way to the house behind and couldn't get through and the husband was having a heart attack. The perpetrator refused to move as "I'll only be a minute" (which is always 10-15 minutes anyway).

People park on the yellow zig zags and on verges. All so their precious kids don't have to walk more than 50metres.

Don't think it's just at 9am and 3.30pm either. There are breakfast clubs and after school clubs and these working parents are often (IME) in even more of a rush than the others (need to get to work, or late back from work for pick up) so park even more appalling because "they'll only be a minute".

And then there are holiday clubs. PTA meetings. Staff training days (often London schools don't have enough room for staff to park on site) and Saturday fayres etc.

It is never ending. There is a reason why houses right next to schools can be cheaper, even if it's a sought after catchment school.

@Malfi they must be very varied then, as mine is much bigger than that and definitely goes beyond local primary school catchment areas.

It sounds as though there’s a school safety zone in place, by the restrictions you’ve described. If there’s cameras installed, they’ll be doing the enforcement. My council monitors the cameras remotely and issues fixed penalties. Ring your loc council, or check their webpage for information.

Don’t paint your own double yellows!

I work in this area and school parking is an absolute nightmare

My friend used to live next to a school, we had an agreement that I could park across her drive for am and pm pick up, and that she would call me if I needed to move. It saved her having randoms parked across her drive, at least if she needed to get out I’d be straight out!

Everyone parks near a school during pick up and drop off. Restrictions don’t matter a jot.

The good news is that it only lasts maybe 15 mins 2 times a day, so really depends whether you need to go out at those times.

My dad was a governer of a primary school and parents parking on the yellow zigzag "no parking" lines outside the school, plus all around the road near the school, was a big problem. Even when the head teacher patrolled the area, the parents ignored them. Ditto when the police were on traffic duty there

The ones I am talking about (and I think the OP is) are free and only issued to people who live on the specific road (ie: 30-40 properties) for access during school pick up/drop off hours (term time only) and aren't related to the other types of parking permits required to park outside your house/anywhere in the parking zone.

Judge I totally agree I meant “have to get on” as in They and nobody else in the world does! No consideration.

We have lived directly opposite a primary school for many years. It was never too much of an issue years ago as we were both out at work full time and left before 8am. We notice it more now that we are here more often but it's rarely been an issue.
The introduction of breakfast and after school clubs and lots of football matches on weekend mornings means that the time has been extended but it's only intense between 8.30 - 9 and 3 - 3.30 weekdays. If you don't need to get in or out of your house during these times then it's really not a problem.
It's quite scary to watch it unfolding from the front bedroom window especially when it's raining and there a fewer walking, with (usually) 4x4's or BMW's and Audi's up the kerb where the children are crossing (no lollipop lady) and barging their way through.
Every September we have all the new parents who will park across drives but our village PCSO is very good and comes along to keep an eye on things and shift them. It settles down then. School is also very good letting parents know that they value us all as good neighbours. The school do regular projects including walking buses and turning engines off etc.
You just tend to plan things to avoid the worst times if you can and I always let delivery and tradespeople know too.

I completely understand why people wouldn't do it. We know it's opposite a school and we know the consequences of that. But for our budget we wouldn't get a driveway at all where we live. Most roads in our part of London are street parking which would bring another stress.

I'm not looking for advice on whether we should buy it.

I'm keen to know if I can find out the extend of the parking issues before so we can manage expectations.

I want to know if the road restrictions are valid? Are they issuing fines for people who drive down? Il try call the council and see what they say.

Il also try go on my day off at school time. I didn't want to look weird standing near the school when I don't have a child that goes to the school- but il have to see the reality of the situation.

Thanks for all the feedback

What if a friend wanted to come and visit you during the restricted times? Or a tradesperson? I’d be more bothered about them not being able to come due to the risk of a fine than I would about the parking chaos.

@Malfi that is what we believe this road/ school is. I'm going to ring the council to confirm. But I don't think non resident can even drive down the road without an automatic fine during school times.

I'm hoping the cars iv seen are teachers/ residents etc. il have to go scope out school time to check.

Not in my borough. We have zones A-E and they are very precise and local. The neighbouring borough did have borough-wide parking zones but they stopped that years ago because it was ridiculous. When I had a car it worked very well until I realised that in London you usually don't need a car. I accept you need to escort primary-aged children to school and you might choose to do that in a car.

We used to live opposite a primary school and yes there were often cars parked across our drive or making it difficult to get the car out. However I can't say it bothered me that much. It's only twice a day. It wouldn't put me off buying a house near a school again

Good point on tradesmen. If a tradesman can’t park their van, they may well turn down jobs as it’s too much hassle for them.

Ive even heard of gas engineers having to cancel scheduled appointments because they couldn’t park. It’s just inconvenient for everyone involved.

If it's like my neighbourhood you get an automatic £65 fine for driving down the block with a school on it during restricted times. I know because I got one driving down it in August! I thought it was term time only.
As for your drive, a sign saying 'do not park in constant use' should work. If not, make a note of the offender and tell the school.

I live in the middle of London. This has never been a problem. I used to explain where the parking meters were but stopped because it was clear that people knew where they were and I looked silly.

It'll be a School Street.

Here's the link for a London borough - if you Google you should be able to find similar for your borough. https://www.richmond.gov.uk/schoolstreetss_faq

Yes the fines are in place I got fined for going down one to recover a broken down car 😢

Sounds to me like it's a School Street. If you're really interested you could enter a Freedom of Information request to the council to find out how many fines have been issued since it was implemented.

I think it's worth hanging around at pick up and drop off a couple of times and see what happens.

Can't you monitor it on a few mornings and afternoons? If it's enforced people will know and won't park there - same if it isn't.

If you drove past my kids primary you'd straight away know it's chaos.

My daughters secondary school is residential narrow street however it turns into hell at 8.15 and 2.50.
Also they are another 2 primary schools in close by area.

Most parents arriving even 1 hrs before the pick up.
I walk sometimes and see them formed even 3 lines in the street, park on driveways, lowered kerb, even in private parts, on double yellows and red lines too.
There is also a bus route and lots of vans and couriers and learners around so imagine the madness on this narrow road. It is impossible to get out.
I had to drive the other day as rained heavily and the school is 3 miles away, it took my half hour to get out of the street. It was just impossible.

@ShaunaTheSheep perfect thanks. It actually is in Richmond too 👍🏼

@ShaunaTheSheep

I have checked and our new road is a school street. So cars can't drive past the school during the set times without an automatic fine from the camera. Some parents may have exemptions for disabilities etc. that might be the cars iv seen.

It does say residents can apply for exemptions online for visitors/ tradesmen etc. so it shouldn't cause many problems for us.

That info was really help- thanks 🙏🏻

Glad I could help. Good luck with the move!