To think there's not much else we can do and they should be more understsnding

[Hurr1cane]

So DS goes to a special school. Most of the children there get school transport but about 5 children don't and we transport them ourselves, from very far away. My own school run is over 30 miles a day.

Anyway the school is currently having a lot of work done and the parent car park is full of building materials so we can't use it. The other car park is for the school buses, so we have to park on the street next to the school.

The street is made up of massive houses with massive drives. The drives can fit 3 or 4 cars in, there are no other 'adjoining' streets as at the end is a busy main road with no parking.

The first day was fine. Everyone was in their drives so there was plenty of parking spaces on the street, not blocking anyone's drives.

The next day, the residents started to park their cars on the street instead of their drives, there was less spaces but there was still enough for 4 cars. The street is very long. So it was fine.

The third day, all the residents seem to have parked on the street. All the drives were empty and they were all stood in their gardens watching, a few spaces there were now cones in. So there was about 2 spaces. I got there early so managed to park. Rushed DS in and another parent was sat in their car and took my space as I rushed off.

Since then it's just got worse and worse. Now parents are blocking the end of the street waiting for a space or parking on the single yellows using their blue badges (which the council confirmed was fine) and being told they can't park there by residents as they're trying to get their children out and into school. No one blocks anyone's drive, ever, there are only a few of us and none of us would ever do something like that.

This is making the school run really stressful and hard work. It's not as though we're being lazy, one our children are disabled and can't be safely walked far to school (my DS has almost been run over once already just crossing one quiet street) and two, most of us live over half an hour drive away.

This situation isn't perminant, it's only for a couple of months until the car park can be cleared of building equipment.

I don't know what the purpose of this thread is other than to rant but it's really getting me down. The school run is stressful as it is. As is life in general at the moment. I wish I could take him to a local school and walk him there like the majority of people but I just can't.

It's probably stressful for them too I know so I'm probably being unreasonable.

The people who live in that street are being self centred, childish idiots. Moving their cars and watching you struggle to park to get your child with a disability to school is cruel and heartless. Not sure what you can do about it except hope they get bored with their petty little rebellion.

The residents are being really unreasonable as it won't be taking long for a few children to be dropped off.
Could the school let you use the same car park as the buses? As its only a few of you there will still be plenty of space for the buses.
One of my children attends a special school and parking for parents is a nightmare (no dedicated parents car park and about 20 children transported by parents) so you have my sympathies.

From what you describe, sounds like they're being arseholes! My grandad lives in a 'posh' road near a care home and the outrage the residents have if someone has the temerity to park in the road! Easier said than done but ignore them.

On the flip side, I live in a cul de sac by a school. All our drives are sloped; no one blocks drives but by simply parking opposite it's impossible to get out. We probably look like a selfish bunch of twunts as all the cars get put on the road last thing at night/first thing in the morning.

That sounds really hard work. People being precious about others parking in their street is a bit alien to me.

Have you spoken to someone at the school about this? Perhaps they can come up with a solution.

Seems very mean of the neighbours.

Those residents sound like a right bunch of bastards.

The bus car park is jam packed. They have to block each other in and watching them get into the car park is like watching them play a game of Tetris! Although DS loves watching it all play out. Two of the big buses used to park in the parents car park so they have to squeeze themselves into the bus car park now as well.

Have you tried explaining all that to them?

We can't park opposite people's drives as there is a massive grass verge and if we do that we block the entire street so it isn't that either. The houses are only along one side of the street.
Thanks for being kind. I've spoken to the head teacher but she said there's absolutely no other way at all, and I've had a look and can see there isn't either.

Have the school categorically said you can't use the bus park? I would think they would be worried about a) the safety of your children and b) their relationship with their neighbours.

The school needs to leaflet the street and the pcos need to have a word withpeople illegally coning off areas.

Do you know if the school has kept the local residents informed about the building work, how long they expect it to go on, apologised for any inconvenience etc? If not, then in might help the situation if they do.

Either way, the residents are being selfish knobheads. I think the only thing you can do is talk to the school and see if there's any way they can make nice with the residents to try and stop them being quite so aresholish.

No I haven't spoken to them yet, as I'm always there first I get a space so they haven't shouted at me yet. But I don't know what I'll do if there's ever any bad traffic or anything and I'm later. I hate confrontation

x-post

Could you be allowed to do earlier drop off for a couple of months so you are in the bus park before the busses arrive?

Have you contacted the LA yo see if thry can write to the awful residents?

That is grim.

On the flip side, I live in a cul de sac by a school. All our drives are sloped; no one blocks drives but by simply parking opposite it's impossible to get out. We probably look like a selfish bunch of twunts as all the cars get put on the road last thing at night/first thing in the morning.

^^
This. I live outside a school and it's a nightmare twice a day. They park right up to the dropped kerb and directly opposite on a fairly narrow lane. Effectively they are blocking us in or preventing us getting in.

Maybe it's the same for the residents where you are parking. If we know we need to leave the house between 830am and 9am we have to remember to park the car in the lane the night before.

Could the school send a letter to the residents? Or organise a meeting with them. I feel your pain DS2 has a blue badge and we were allowed to park right at the school gate but if someone else parked there then I had to carry him into school so was sweaty and stressed by the end of the school run!!!

In fact if it was me I think I'd be offering my drive to you all if it made your lives easier.

I'm gobsmacked tbh

Can someone write a letter which you can hand deliver to all the houses? Maybe if you explain what total arseholes they are being they might stop being so obstructive.

Ka representative if the school needs to contact the residents arrange a meeting and agree a way forward,

With cake and tea,

I think the head should write to the local residents explaining the current, temporary, situation regarding the parking.

This letter should explain, in words of one syllable, the difficulties experienced due to the long journey, the disabilities of the children and the distress their actions are causing.

These people are behaving in a disgusting manner, but maybe they are so ignorant they need the situation explained to them.

Have you told then head of the school about this? Maybe they could write a politely worded letter explaining what's happening and ask for residents understanding. If they know it's only for a short time they may be nicer about it. They do sound like twats though.

What a complete nightmare.
Is the school council owned and run? Perhaps they could designate some temporary parking? Are there any other entrances to the school? Could they allow staggered starts/ends to the school for a couple of months?
Who is responsible for parking control? Could they come and see/comment on the situation?
Residents' meeting or polite note pleading for understanding through the letterboxes?
It's crap though.

The school have said we can't use the bus car park, and we couldn't anyway, it's full, and by full I mean they buses are like Tetris blocks filling the entire space. It must take some skill to do.

The school did keep them informed and apologised. They're very good at that, and they made sure to tell parents not to block any drive in any circumstances. They want good relations with the residents because otherwise they buzz on the door and complain constantly apparently.

When we had a car park the school told us we weren't allowed to park on the street as it made the residents complain, but now they've said there's no choice and no one owns the road

Couldnt the Head write a polite letter explaining it is a short term thing and that there is only a handful of cars which require parking and if the residents could be accomodating for a short while it would be appreciated?