What does your primary school do about illegal parking?

[SchoolParkingPests]

I live on a cul-de-sac, far enough away from a primary school that I didn't think parking would be an issue when I bought it, but it is. It is a popular urban primary school with a small catchment area, so the vast majority of the pupils must live within walking distance.

The parents are absolutely feral when it comes to parking. Double yellow lines, making it impossible to safely pull out of the road, and I've even had to get out of my car to direct traffic just so I can reach my own house because it was so congested no one could move.

Normally, I feel I have no alternative but to park across my own driveway to prevent people blocking me in. Yesterday I had to go out in the car, only to see on my CCTV that someone had decided to block in my work van.

I have clear CCTV of their faces, though they managed to park so that their numberplate was obscured. I emailed this to the school, asking them to speak to the individuals involved - I'm sure they must know who they are, they cannot be letting children leave with random unidentified adults. They have refused.

Their solution? We'll put a general note in the newsletter (I'm sure they've done that a hundred times before, so why would it change now?) or I should contact the police, who "might" come out. The police don't visit for burglaries, so fat chance of them turning out for this, the school is just passing the buck onto another organisation that they know will do nothing.

If there was a fire, there would be absolutely no chance of the fire brigade being able to get down the road at school run time. Same thing for a medical emergency - and there are lots of elderly residents on the street.

What do schools normally do about parking? This school seems entirely unwilling to take even the most basic action of speaking to the individuals identified on CCTV.

I should think there are very few schools in the land that don’t have issues with parking in their vicinity. Schools don’t have any authority over parking, other than to urge parents to park respectfully and to send reminders via the newsletter.

There may be parents who drop their children off before travelling on to work, but it might be possible for some of them to park more safely a bit further away and walk a short distance to school.

Surely there’s no need for most secondary age pupils to be driven to school.

Increasing use of cars means it’s only going to get worse, unless people take responsibility for being careful and respectful.

The primary school my children go to regularly sends out information about street parking. They remind parents frequently about the rules and about what is considered dangerous or antisocial. They have in the past had posters drawn by the school children put up on the school fence about considerate parking and driving. They give out info to each new Reception year's parents, suggesting streets to park on that are slightly further away and to then walk in. They give out information about who to report bad parking to. Once, they used the emergency alert system to send out a message about one car that was blocking in someone who needed to get to hospital.

The local residents have at various times stood outside at drop off and pick up times to intervene with people trying to park over drives. They have also stood out there noticeably taking pictures of people parked over drive ways. Sometimes cones/bins have been placed. The local council parking wardens occasionally come and park up to check.

In your situation, I would find out exactly who is responsible for parking infringements, then photograph and report every instance to them.

I do symlathesise slightly with parents at our school, as the safe, legal parking is very limited. However some of the driving exceeds dangerous. For example, pulling across the whole pavement, next to the bus stop where children are waiting, whole talking on the phone.

Oddly, when the police do their regular visits, they all find safe legal parking...

They all think "its only 5 minutes". But its not. I've seen the parking warden manage to ticket multiple cars in the time frame they are gone (from residents only parking, which ironically is the safest parking!). Although he managed to do mine last time... the photo clearly showed the permit!!

Schools need a parking plan really.

Our school just sent quite a stern email, some parents park in the marked bays in a block of flats next door! It's chaos tbh. DD almost got reversed into whilst holding my hand on the pavement

There is a massive car park 5 mins away that i always used before i was allowed to use the staff car park. They also park in the junction of a main road so you cant even get into the school car park entrance. I have special permission to use the staff car park and i was massively late once as i couldnt even get into the road the school is on.

This is not the schools job. Contact your local council who will send round some friendly parking wardens to ticket everyone and they will soon find alternatives.

Why not?

Every other business has to show traffic and parking management plans?

A friend is currently having trouble starting a dog grooming business by converting an outbuilding because the council are worried about the, err, 4 visitors she has planned per day.

Jeremy Clarkson had trouble with the council because of all the traffic and parking chaos associated with people visiting his farm shop.

Why should schools be uniquely immune from responsibility for the traffic they attract?

A school is not a for profit business

Actually, my experience is that the schools often will get involved because it reflects on the community relationship between the school and the local neighbourhood, and often there are "safe routes to school" set up which are compromised by unsafe parking. Of course it would be better if schools didn't have to use waste their time with it but it can happen. We had a plague of newly passed sixth form drivers deciding to park all over the place down our cul de sac: opposite parked cars, on pavements, driving like idiots. Talked to the head of year and it was all stopped.

Schools aren’t businesses.

Head teachers don’t select a location and open a school.

The council are in charge of roads and parking

We have similar issues with parents parking inconsiderately. Apart from general notices on our newsletter there is not a lot we can do. We have included it as an issue on our travel plan and our local authority has installed cameras to stop parents parking at certain times of the day. Unfortunately, this has led to some parents blaming the school for their parking fines. As for a pp suggestion to get years 5 and 6 outside to talk to parents, we did this once and, due to the amount of abuse directed to our pupils, we will never subject them to that again.
I do sympathise with you, but honestly don't know what else the school can do.

All the new schools ( there are a few) round me are built on the edges of towns with dedicated bus bays, pick up zones and parking. It’s still busy but feasible. Council looking at parking / increased traffic is what they do before planning is granted surely. They aren’t going to close schools/ football grounds etc that have been there for years.

People are labouring under a misconception that parents actually listen to schools. The parents that are selfish enough to do this, couldn't care less what the school says and totally ignore all communication. Often parents are abusive to school staff when confronted. The school is right. Nothing changes until residents contact the council and complain incessantly. They don't listen to the school either.
Please don't blame schools for this- they are buckling under an immense workload and lack of funding and there is only so much they can do

You won't like my idea as it's a bit out there.

As you live in a cul de sac, I'd take a neighbourhood watch approach to this and garner the support of your neighbours - take it in turns and do some sort of high viz/clip board/bollard approach in the morning and afternoons for a smile to prevent them from parking there. Do this on a volunteer rotational basis with your neighbours - assuming of course that you have some that wfh/are sah parents/retirees.

Either that or the mumsnet favorite ....... penguin bollards !

There's gallows in the corner of the playground and a bonfire every week.

Having worked in a school with parking issues, i can say that you are probably over estimating what impact someone having a word would have. The type of person that parks like an idiot, also tends to tell staff to eff off sometimes in very strong terms. They dont meekly go 'yes Miss' and move the car or not do it again.

I saw this on google streetview earlier. Really summed up school parking for me.

Honestly, having lived right beside a school we just learnt never to try to leave or arrive at our house at those times. It sounds crazy but it was that bad. Once DH confronted someone who parked across our drive and it turned out it was the chair of governors, who was completely defensive and unapologetic!

Our retired neighbour used to come out every day at school pick up time and guard his parking space.

Schools are there to teach children

Exactly. They are not there to teach parents where to park.

Complain to the council and request a parking warden comes out.

Although I wouldn’t park over your driveway if it blocks a dropped curb because you might end up with a ticket yourself.

Schools can only do so much and that is a fact - they will send emails to parents, step parents, guardians etc that come to pick up kids

Sadly, so many entitled, igornat clowns that just park like a proper cloen and very dangerously at times on the yellow ziz-zags and peoples drivers

Often, these type do rant and rave even when they are politely advised re rule/law -

on the yellow zig-zags take picture with date and time and send it to the parking dpet at the council, often works

Sorry - but why do you think if some joker is a "school govnor" has more sense that another person??

You should have reported the joke to the school and the local press - that would have made her day😂

I would have hoped that a school governor would be fairly community minded. Alas!

Yep- I had my nieces after school this week and they were on absolutely top note when they got here because they had seen a parent parked on the zig zag lines outside the school gate, get into a physical fight with 2 traffic wardens who were giving him a ticket. A teacher had come out of the playground to try and help and there was shouting and swearing and police being called.

They are only little and were terrified.

Our school has a car park for parents so no problems. Except that they had to enforce reverse parking 🤣

Schools won't go out and confront parents directly because the people who have to go out will take a lot of verbal and sometimes physical abuse.

They generally try other methods - double yellows. Get the kids to make posters. Get a traffic warden round now and then if possible.

Ultimately schools are a public service and people are going to drop their children off and pick them up by car. Schools certainly used to have to have a traffic reduction plan that encouraged other ways of getting to school - hence walk to school week, etc, etc. some schools will also organise parking elsewhere that is more accessible and then children and parents can walk from there.

Many parents will be driving quickly off to work at drop off though, so won't want to add more time to their journey.