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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:
MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams · 14/11/2013 11:37

Best things thats ever happened in my street is Permit Parking. We have a primary school at the top and a Leisure Centre at the bottom, as well as it beibg a stones throw from the bus stops, so I used to not even get parked on my street.

Now, I pay £20 per year and can always get parked outside my own front door. Could you all get togetger and apply for tgat?

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 11:45

Really mckayz? Why?

Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 11:46

I have had another email from the local councillor saying permit parking isn't always the solution and can cause problems for residents and can be costly meaning the council won't want to fork out for it

Everyone has a drive so there is parking for every house, so I am just going to speak to the other residents and take it forward myself.

OP posts:
fieldfare · 14/11/2013 12:12

I had a run in with someone this morning. I had all my cm children with me and he was parked in front of the dropped kerb and on a single yellow. I took a picture on my way back out of school to email to our pcso and he started yelling at me.
More people need to walk and be more mindful and considerate of those around them!

Mckayz · 14/11/2013 12:16

Because they're small children. I want to make sure they go into class.

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 12:18

Where do you think they'll go?!

Sorry I realise I am probably in the minority but I wouldn't even consider walking a child all the way into their classroom. My children are pretty well behaved though, and wouldn't wander off or not go into school.

Not suggesting yours aren't Smile

NoComet · 14/11/2013 12:24

Ahh, the annual pink letter and visit from the wet buffoon (sorry, I'm sure there are good PCSO,but ours wasn't).

If you live by a school parking will be shit, it's part of the shape of the universe.

Inconsiderable parked cars, left all day is, however a different matter and is not part if the deal.

Jenny70 · 14/11/2013 12:35

We have a parking officer outside the school every day... I think our Council funds half its leisure budget on the funds of daily infringements! With our new parents catchment being 350m this year, it seems to be beyond belief that anyone needs to drive (but of course families move further away and keep their places)... perhaps these families put an allowance into their budget of the cost of weekly fines!

redshifter · 14/11/2013 12:37

Time restrictions for parking? What about the workers? Where will they park?

Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 12:44

There is plenty of parking for workers on other streets nearby which don't have schools on, our street which has the school on is almost full with workers parking, therefore leaving nowhere for parents to park.

OP posts:
ArbitraryUsername · 14/11/2013 12:47

The street residents are entitled to apply for permits to stop their street becoming a train station or workplace car park though. Having cars parked there all day will make it harder for their visitors to park etc. But it does mean buying permits and having them available for guests.

That said, I think you do need to accept that living next to a big hospital etc will make your street busier with parked cars in the same way that living opposite a school will inevitably mean it will be bedlam twice a day during term times. You factor that in to your decisions (along with stuff like number of bedrooms, how big the kitchen is, whether you can afford the rent/mortgage etc).

Original poster
LittleMissGerardPoppyButler · 14/11/2013 12:49

It's the parking on pavements that bothers me though, I accept its going to be busy, but I don't want to walk in the road.

OP posts:
ArbitraryUsername · 14/11/2013 12:52

The main road near my house is a dual carriageway, with double yellow lines on the southbound side. There are 4 in a block type houses along that stretch that obviously have no parking. Last night I drive along and noticed that 3 separate cars had decided that they should just park entirely on the pavement (taking up the full width of the pavement with nothing on the road at all). I have no idea how they could have thought that was ok.

flowery · 14/11/2013 12:59

I do find the idea of pausing outside a school in the car and expecting a tiny 4yo to make their way into the playground and to their class without a parent a bit of a shame tbh.

DS1 is 6, and I'm now at the stage where I take him into the playground, kiss him goodbye, send him off to line up and don't wait until they go in before I leave. I would trust him to go into the playground by himself but it feels a bit of a shame to do that just yet.

At our school I think holding in the car while a child gets out would probably be more disruptive traffic-wise than parking properly.

When DS2 starts next year I will certainly take him to his door and wait with him until it's time to go in.

TempusFuckit · 14/11/2013 13:25

YANBU to complain OP - but restrictions seem a very unfair way of solving it.

Essentially, you want the council to use everyone's tax money to solve your problem, as restrictions cost a fair amount to implement and then enforce.

Also, and this is the more unfair bit, the problem is caused by parents but your solution will benefit them and inconvenience workers, who are currently parking considerately. Unless you want the restrictions to be in place at school drop off and pick up times?

It seems to me the fairest solution is permit parking, paid for at least in part by residents.

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 13:38

flowery I think it's a bit strange, personally. Most children don't start school until they are 5, and the ones that are 4 aren't 4 for long. I don't at all see why it is a shame? You are leaving them all day, why is the extra 3/4 minutes a shame?!

Do you have to go into the classroom to collect them as well? What about the children who walk with older siblings? Or do they not allow that either? Maybe we are just more relaxed here, I don't know.

Oh, and yeah I agree entirely that just stopping in the road would be way disruptive!

What happens here (which I thought was normal - where I am from all kids walk or get a school bus so there aren't really these school runs) is that you drive to the school, pull into a space, drop off your kid, pull out and leave. All takes 20/30 seconds. You can stop in front of a driveway, because even if the person comes out, they can see you are about to pull away. It all flows nice and quick because you don't need to find a 'space' to occupy for more than 30 seconds.

After reading this, it seems like a way better way than everyone parking and leaving their cars to take the child right into school! Must be a nightmare, I am so glad not to live in your areas!

Mckayz · 14/11/2013 14:20

I just think it's quite sad and heartless to shove your kid out the car and send him in.

I wait in the playground with DS1 who is 6 and in year 2 and he goes in by himself. I go in if I need to see his teacher. Then I take DS2 who is 4 and help him do his coat and book bag. I can see his teacher if I need to and write down if anyone else is picking him up.

Would hate to have it any other way.

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 14:23

Hmm sad and heartless? Um, thanks? How lovely. And I don't shove my kids out the car, jeez!

I don't need to see the teacher often, maybe once a year. My kids have friends and don't need to hang out with me in the playground. And I taught them to do their own coats and bags so I don't need to do that either.

fairylightsintheautumn · 14/11/2013 14:24

Alexa my DS was four in August so he'll be 4 for the whole school year. At his school you have to go into the playground, all the way round the edge of the building and the reception classroom is the last one you get too - I'm really not sure he would get there without being distracted or dropping something on route. I have to drive as we live about 15 miles from the school but I always park further away than I need to where it is less congested, even in the rain. We also have to collect from the classroom door so you can be gone from your car for 10-15 mins.

Tailtwister · 14/11/2013 14:28

We have to either drop off at before school club or take them straight into the classroom. I wouldn't feel at ease not knowing my child was definitely in the school or not. I don't know how long that lasts for though.

kiriwAnyFuckerwa · 14/11/2013 14:35

Alexa - what if something happens to your DC in between you dropping them off and them going into the classroom? I like to know where my DS is at all times and that means handing him over to teaching staff.

I don't know anyone who does any different.

flowery · 14/11/2013 14:38

It's not about going into the classroom Alexa - we are only expected to do that the first week or two they are at school.

They don't release them without there being a parent visible in the playground though - this is year 2 so aged 6-7.

Most children aren't 5 when they start school either. Children start school the September after they are 4, so unless their 5th birthday is right at the beginning of September before the school year begins, they will be 4 for at least a while, and some are only just 4 when they start.

Anyway, horses for courses I guess...

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 14:38

fairy the rules must be different here - the cut off here is way earlier than August so there would never be a kid who has just turned 4 going to school. The maximum they'd be 4 for would be a few months.

I can't imagine sending a child to school who was only just three a month beforehand! Guess it's just what we are used to here.

Thankfully, we don't have to walk them in or collect from the classroom.

Never been worried that they won't go into the school. Maybe some parents need to, either because they can't trust their child to go in, or because they are particularly nervous or worried. I can understand, but surely this can't be every parent?

AlexaChelsea · 14/11/2013 14:43

kiri I guess that's one of those things that you have to not worry about. If I worried about what might happen to my child every time they were out of my sight, I would be some sorry mess.

I guess I am of the school of thought that children should be taught independence. They don't need my watchful eye 24/7.

My oldest had managed 6 years of school without going astray.

I actually can't imagine the pandemonium that would ensue if every parent of each of the 29 children in each of the 14 classes all had to go into the school grounds in the morning!

No wonder y'all have such issues with parking! This is all making way more sense to me now

flowery · 14/11/2013 14:44

I can't imagine parents of the older children go into the school grounds.