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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parking outside school

28 replies

snowman1 · 20/12/2012 10:38

I live in a house near a school school. This morning, a person parked over my drive. He then left the car and took about 8 kids down to the school (they work as a team of childminders).

When he came back I asked him not to block the drive. He said sorry, he'd only be a minute and would move. I said no, I can't have that, I need access to my drive and I didn't want to see his van blocking me in again. I was not aggressive but would probably use the word assertive, I didn't raise my voice. I usually hate confrontation but I had an immunisation appointment for my baby at the doctors and genuinely needed to go.

I guess what has made me nervous about this is that a week or two ago, my friend rang me to take her to an accident where her husband was found unconcious with his car wrapped around a tree and she needed my help to give her a lift to follow the ambulance. The call came at 255. Had it been the day before, there would have been a car blocking my drive!

This is about the third instance in as many weeks, I have complained to the school who were sympathetic and advise I need to take photos and post it on some website which is what they have agreed to do at the recent PTA.

I guess I am posting cause I am having a bit of a bad time with a 12 week old and a 2 year old and have for some reason let this completely ruin my day so far. Should I have just let it slide and accept it as part of living next to a school?

OP posts:
TraineeBabyCatcher · 20/12/2012 10:42

People shouldn't park over drives, regardless. Whether its legal or illegal its just bad etiquette and shows how thoughtless they are.

MaxPepsi · 20/12/2012 10:43

No I don't think you should let it slide.

Part of living next to a school means increased noise levels, more traffic, more pedestrians.

It does not mean ignorant arseholes blocking you in.

ChaoticforlifenotjustChristmas · 20/12/2012 10:44

YANBU You can expect extra cars/traffic in your area due to the school run but you shouldn't have to put up with inconsiderate parking like that.

ChaoticforlifenotjustChristmas · 20/12/2012 10:45

x post. MaxPepsi put it better than I did, especially the last bit Xmas Grin

SixtyFootDoll · 20/12/2012 10:47

Contact local police station and ask if a PCSO can pay some attention to the problem

Original poster
snowman1 · 20/12/2012 10:48

Thanks guys for taking the trouble to answer, I really genuinely like seeing the kids going to school, am happy to accept increased traffic and know many of the parents at the school. I dislike having to get out at school dropping off time as you have to be so careful with visability. I am not sure myself of the legal stance but it is a dropped kerb..

OP posts:
uggmum · 20/12/2012 10:48

I would recommend contacting your local community support officer. They should contact the culprit and tell them to stop doing it.

In my area they are really proactive in dealing with this sort of thing

UnacceptableAmountOfSherry · 20/12/2012 10:50

You shouldn't have to put up with it at all. Can you not put a cone out or something similar to prevent parking over your drive?
Parents on the school run can be so inconsiderate and rude.

Is there anywhere locally where parents could park leaving a short walk to school? Our school recently sent out a map showing car parks within a 2 minute walk where parents could park without causing nuisance to local residents and more importantly limiting the dangerous levels of traffic outside the school most people have ignored it though, selfish buggers

SixtyFootDoll · 20/12/2012 10:54

I gave someone the evils this morning, parking on the verge, churning all the grass up. Was praying she would get stuck in the mud. Lazy feckers.

FryOneFatChristmasTurkey · 20/12/2012 10:58

Legal position is they can't park over your drive entrance while your car is on the drive (or in garage). But it's not so clear cut if there is no car on drive or in garage, ie, no-one is blocked in. I live near a school too, and it's a problem around here.

Unfortunately this problem will not go away until the selfish parents stop being so selfish. It's a minority of parents here, but a significant minority (most are nice) who seem to think that Picking Up Their Child From School trumps any expectation that their parking should in any way be considerate and legal.

elizaregina · 20/12/2012 10:58

can you report the number plate to the school our shcool then publishes the no plate to name and shame each week....or tell the school....

I have similar but not from school i need 100% access to wit NB etc

When i asked my person to move - it was the attitude - he actualy said he would only be 10 mins!!!!

most people profusly aplogise and move immedialty.

can you also get a sign to say no parking at any time? even stick a cone out? Def go to the school though

Original poster
snowman1 · 20/12/2012 11:03

That's a good idea, Sherry but to be honest, it is slightly outside the town, so there is loads of parking, provided you are willing to walk what is, honestly, an extra 30 seconds around the corner on a different road. There are no real reason for not doing so, you can park on the left and don't need to cross any roads if you are with little ones. There are just a few houses on this road with open space as well so it causes no problems to anybody. A cone seems a bit aggressive, don't think we have got to that stage yet!

Uggmum, PCSO might be a good idea, shame they have to waste their time on this sort of thing. Catch them on the last day of school when they have dropped their guard, mwa ha haha. The school sounded really cheesed off about them parking around the school and on the "no parking" bits around the school and literally on the junction so sadly it probably isn't the first time they've had a call..

OP posts:
Merrin · 20/12/2012 11:10

Contact the Head of the school as well.

Hobbitation · 20/12/2012 11:14

I agree with the above comments, but just wanted to say it is nothing to do with the PTA. PTAs are there to raise money for the school, not to deal with parking issues.

BlueberryHill · 20/12/2012 11:15

Anyone remember the post on school parking where the poster and her neighbours blocked someone in who had blocked one of their drives. The driver asked them to move, they said yes, but in 10 mins and then watched as she wailed and howled. Fitting justice. Maybe think of some fitting revenge on poor parkers

Sorry it happens to you and you shouldn't have to put up with it. I cannot believe how inconsiderate some people are.

FryOneFatChristmasTurkey · 20/12/2012 11:17

We have a PCSO come around at start or finish times, on a random basis. Parents are being more cautious, but you can still see the diehards who slowly drive past the school entrance to see if she's there before parking badly if she's not.

MrsKeithRichards · 20/12/2012 11:26

Yeah get someone to park so close they can't get out!

At my sons old nursery someone actually had the cheek to park in someone's drive

NonnoMum · 20/12/2012 11:27

Another thing you can do is phone the non-emergency police number and your local support PCO will be more than happy to do a bit of hanging around school at dropping off and picking up time...

NonnoMum · 20/12/2012 11:29

Oh - someone's mentioned that - but actually it isn't wasting their time - it's the type of thing they are there for...

More pedestrian accidents happen in the time around school drop offs and pick ups and crap parking and stressy drivers is one of the main causes...

FryOneFatChristmasTurkey · 20/12/2012 11:42

The reason there is a PCSO at school this time is that a near miss happened recently where a child was nearly knocked over because they tried to cross the road to school between illigally parked cars.

And yesterday morning, a car mounted the pavement by the school. Just missing me and a little girl by a couple of inches. Yes, that close! Shock I had my arms out to grab the girl if needed but luckily.......

I get cross by this, nowhere on our estate is more than 10 minutes walk from school, so I fail to see why people need to drive to school when they are so close by. If more people walked, then the limited parking would be safe for those who genuinely need to drive. (I believe the driver mentioned above lives on our estate due to the direction they were going; there's only two roads off our estate and she was going the other way.)

MissPB · 20/12/2012 11:56

This must be so annoying for you - it is rude of drivers to block your driveway.
Is it possible to sometimes park your car so that YOU are blocking your driveway so that you can get in and out but no-one can park there?

Not sure if you would want to do this everyday though!

Original poster
snowman1 · 20/12/2012 12:02

Sorry, hobbit, neither of mine are at school yet, iit was some sort of parents'meeting. Some scary stories there, I always think if you are inconsiderate enough to park over a drive you won't think twice about parking where kids can't see either. Can't believe someone parked in their drive mrs k!
Sorry for delays in posting baby is a bit grumpy after jabs. You know you are a mum when the word calpol becomes a verb..

OP posts:
SofaKing · 20/12/2012 12:03

I sympathise, I live next to a school and have been parked in front of while waiting to cross the road outside my own front door!

I was naughty yesterday and told a parent parked outside my house with her engine on that there was a traffic warden coming and she should switch off. It was wrong and childish of me to lie but after spending every day walking to get the DC through choking smoke I just snapped. The driver had no idea it was illegal in our local authority to run your engine while parked outside a school.

Perhaps contact the school to ask them to issue a letter reminding parents of road rules/parking etiquette and then if you have any further trouble contact pcso? That way you have given them a chance to behave with consideration and if they have ignored the letter they deserve a fine when caught.

MadBoysMum · 20/12/2012 12:12

Depending on where you live, it may be the Civil Parking Enforcement Officer you need rather than the police. We've recently started a group at school to rid the world of selfish mums improve the parking situation and make the roads around school safer for pedestrians and it is the Civil Parking Enforcement Officer (the people who replace traffic wardens) who now issue tickets unless a car is causing an obstruction in which case it's the police.

That's our local authority anyway. Either way, legal or illegal, it is selfish, dangerous and downright thoughtless to park across a driveway even if you are only going to be a "couple of minutes". Take photos, or get a CPEC/Traffic Warden up with a camera.

Purple2012 · 20/12/2012 13:36

It is an obstruction if it stops you getting out of your drive but not if you can't get in.

Next time it happens ring the police on 101 tell them you can't get out of the drive and give the reg number and ask for someone to come and deal. Even if the police/PCSOs don't get there in time keep ringing it in every day, each time giving the reg number. Each time get the log number. Then, after you have done this for a while, ring again with all the log numbers and ask them to contact the cars registered keeper as it is x amount of times you have been stopped from leaving your drive.