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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To complain about the ridiculous parking?

65 replies

LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 09:19

I live by a school, which is very handy as my kids go there, but the parking is a joke.

This morning there were cars parked on the pavement, completely blocking it, so people had to walk on the road.

I've also had my drive blocked this week.

I'm not a confrontational person, and so I won't approach them, as I've seen how they react when others have, and I don't want my kids to see that behaviour.

The problem is people are parking there and walking to work, the school suggested a while ago that the school and local residents went to the council together and asked for a 2 hour parking restriction to be put on the road. I'm going to flag that up with them. As then if the workers didnt park there, then there's room for parents.

I have sent an email to school this morning to tell them about the parking, in a nice way, I wondered if its also worth mentioning it to anyone else, like the local neighbourhood police?

Aibu to do this, or should I just leave it at that?

Also any advice on what to do about restrictions etc would be great.

Thanks

OP posts:
Peekingduck · 14/11/2013 10:13

If the problem is that people are parking and walking to work, why have you written to the school?

BillyGoatintheBuff · 14/11/2013 10:41

I guess you have to tell the school so they can tell the parents to stop parking everywhere

Mim78 · 14/11/2013 10:43

Our school have had to send strongly worded letters out. They have also contacted the council and asked them to give out tickets to anyone parked illegally.

It must be dreadful for the people who live there. I know the school run is stressful, but our school is so oversubscribed that no one can possibly live very far away!

I can drive by take dd to school by tram (or whoever is doing the school run with go by tram) because I think it's better for her and also would hate to get involved in parking wars. On the odd occasion when I've picked her up by car because we are going on somewhere I have been really early.

Just realised outed my location a bit by saying tram!

WillYouDoTheFandango · 14/11/2013 10:45

It may be worth a call to your local police.

People are parking and walking to work, meaning that there's nowhere around the school to park and so parents are abandoning their cars in stupid places Peeking. So long term a time restriction would stop the workers and free up spaces but the school could mention to the parents about blocking drives etc.

ArbitraryUsername · 14/11/2013 10:49

I think the OP needs to tell the school because it would be a case of the school and the local residents putting a case together to the local authority for parking restrictions. The parking issue probably has implications for the safety of children arriving at and leaving school, so it makes sense to get them involved. And I'd imagine that the local authority will be more convinced by a case made by local residents and the school than just a few local residents.

MaryBS · 14/11/2013 10:56

I know that our local PCSO has patrolled schools, warning and/or ticketing those who park badly. Might be worth phoning the non emergency number? Our PCSO can be contacted via email, that may be another option

Peekingduck · 14/11/2013 10:57

I'm sure the school have repeatedly tried to get parents to park considerately (every school I've been involved with has had these problems on-going), but again, the police can get involved, the school has limited powers.
These sort of threads always interest me. I'm sure that inconsiderate parent parkers are on Mumsnet, but they keep quiet about why they feel it's OK to park across driveways or in other stupid places.

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 10:57

Why is everyone parking? Why aren't they just dropping off?

Is it the commuters who are parking? Why would the school parents be parking?

Blu · 14/11/2013 11:00

I would report it to your local council and ask them to send parking enforecement camera cars at school time - then everyone who parks on the pavement will get a ticket.

Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 11:01

Thanks for the replies, I contacted school because its the parents who are parking dangerously.

Having spoken to a neighbour there was talk when the last head teacher was there, that residents and school should get together and go to the council about restrictions, but a new head has just taken over so that needs starting again.

I have contacted the neighbourhood police team, and school, and our 3 local councillors. One has replied already saying he has asked the local psco to visit and he is also himself going to come on Monday morning to look. I will ask him about the parking restrictions too.

OP posts:
AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 11:03

But why are parents parking at all?!

I'm missing something.

Sunnymeg · 14/11/2013 11:06

Alexa, at our local primary your not allowed to drop off until they are in Y4. The parking round the school is abysmal ( small rural village). The PC SO comes round once a month and issues parking tickets. It was not unusual for people to get to school an hour early and give their children breakfast in the car just to get a parking space.

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 11:08

What do you mean not allowed to drop off? Do they make you bring your child into the classroom?

Is Y4 around 9 years old?

How bizarre!

Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 11:11

We had a similar issue with DS's school. In the end, the council made the majority resident's parking (permit only) and a small section 30 minutes only. It stops people parking to walk into town and school drop off parents blocking in residents. I've seen a lot of bad parking (and driving) since DS started school though. You have my sympathy OP.

AlexaChelsea- I guess it's because they don't live near the school or are driving onto work afterwards? DS's school is over the other side of the city from where we live and I know quite a few people with much longer commutes than us.

WhereIsMyHat · 14/11/2013 11:13

This was a problem near my sons school. The council must have been informed because there's a warden there every day and pick up giving out tickets.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 14/11/2013 11:16

Same at our school, you have to see them in the door till they are in Yr3, not just leave them in the grounds, which are unsupervised. The school is in the middle of its grounds with doors for each class all the way round the outside, rather than one main entrance, so it would require several staff to supervise the entire area adequately. None of the entrances are in sight of the gates to the grounds either due to the layout. Only minor parking problems though, most people walk.

ZombieMonkeyButler · 14/11/2013 11:17

Alexa - do you have a school that allows you to do a drive-by drop-off with a 4 year old? Confused

Here, yes, you have to accompany the child to the school door until at least the second term of Year 3.

Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 11:24

You have to accompany children here too, I've never seen a school where you don't?

OP posts:
Katnisscupcake · 14/11/2013 11:25

I would contact the local police as others have said. It worked in the case of DD's school.

DD's school is in a tiny village and they provide the use of a car park (they have a large number of children attending from outside the village). Assuming that people are just coming to school, dropping the kids off and going again, there is plenty of space in the car park for everyone.

But some people are still parking on the residential streets. One such person was confronted by the owner of the house they parked in front of and the person driving said 'I pay my car tax I can park where I like!'.

That afternoon when the same person arrived to pick up their child, a PCSO was standing on the corner where he'd parked so he went and used the car park, like he should have done in the first place. The PCSO was approaching anyone who parked on the roads and asked them to use the car park.

So if nothing else, they may send out a PCSO to act as a deterrent to stop people parking badly...

Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 11:27

The trouble is they send out a psco but then it just reverts back the next day :(

I think the restrictions are the way forward. I have asked the local councillor about this. I am happy to get the other residents on board with this as I know they will, most of them have children at the school.

OP posts:
Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 11:28

Oops sorry I meant PCSO Blush

OP posts:
Mckayz · 14/11/2013 11:32

It's quite bad at my sons school. There is a huge pay and display car park and the council and school will give you a permit for £5 for the school year. Yet people still park in the bus stop, on the corners of junctions and they park over driveways. Don't understand it at all when there's the car park.

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 11:32

Well, you don't here. You can drop off and they cross at the lollipop crossing person and off they go. Not many parents walk their children into the playground, other than a few who have SN children.

Bunraku · 14/11/2013 11:34

Why do people think normal sensible parking restrictions don't apply at school run times? This morning as usual there were people parked across corners, in junctions, blocking roads and people's driveways and blocking each other in at the same time. People trying to navigate the area can't see around the vehicles and children being children there will be an accident soon. It doesn't help that it is on a steep hill and I await the scene in winter.

Mckayz · 14/11/2013 11:36

I would hate to just drop my kids off at the lollipop lady and off they go. They're 6 and 4!!

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