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.

Report to LA every single time when residents put cones in the road, take photo's with the date and time on and include these in your complaint. Ask if they can send a traffic warden round to the school at pick up/drop off time.

Also talk to your LEA SEN officer, get the other parents to do the same.

The safety of children with SN is being put at risk because of this.

State that while you appreciate that the residents may be being inconvenienced by the added disruption of the building work being carried out at the school getting your child into school safely is your primary concern.

I would ask the local community support officer to come and talk some sense into them one morning.

They can't make them move their cars but they could ask them nicely and be seen to be taking notes.

I would shame on Facebook/papers if they continue after you speak to the head. No compassion at all YANBU.

Around here the community police are on the side of the residents. They regularly ticket cars on the school run that park in such a way as to inconvenience residents.

What a bunch of arseholes.

Where do the staff park?

I agree with defineme, think if the school sent a letter to residents asking for their co-operation and explaining this is a short term problem then hopefully they would be more reasonable.

Chances are MrsDV that they are parking on the yellow zigzag lines. I work in a school on a small road with 3 schools on it, one of which is a special school. Drop off and pick up time is bedlam!

It is an obstruction if residents can't get in or out of their drives. It's what happens here but not often enough.

We et letters from the community police ass t to park on the lane because it obstructs the view of people further down the lane. So any parent parking is also causing an obstruction - so they get tickets.

*asking us not to park

Given that the OP has already said that no-one is blocking anyone's drive, I'm not sure why some posters are bringing it up.

Some people are such arseholes! If the school has been there for that long, they must have bought their houses knowing full well it was there. That is a gamble you take when you buy near a school - there will be people going to and from it for 38 weeks a year in the morning and the afternoon. Buying a house near a school and then complaining that people go near your house to get to the school is being pig ignorant!

I would ask the local PCSO to have a word with them, especially if they are putting cones down on a public highway (illegal!) and as they are deliberately parking in the way so you can't. Tell the school you are getting the PCSO involved and that they need to work with them and the neighbours to ensure the neighbours understand you will not accept this - what idiots!!

Personally, and because I am a PA bitch at times , I would be making very loud comments to my kids in front of the watching neighbours along the lines of 'oh look DS there is the sad little man who thinks it's funny to make a disabled child struggle. What a pathetic life he must have, poor thing. I wonder if he will still be standing here when the papers come round so they get his photo.' But I appreciate that might not be the best option?!

they buzz on the door and complain constantly if they don't get their way.

What utter bastards! I'm all in favour of going to the local media. You might even end up helping the head to be more assertive

Buying a house near a school and then complaining that people go near your house to get to the school is being pig ignorant!

The houses here were built long before the school.

I expect the residents have already tried to involve the PCSOs. They are very involved here. If you think it's ok for the parents to park then it's ok for the residents to as well. It's just as legal. Cones aren't of course.

You don't need to park over a dropped kerb to make it hard for people to get in and out of their drives, especially with older houses, where drives tend to be narrow and drivers need to swing out to turn. OP may not think the cars are obstructing but it's possible that they are.

My father used to live here and sometimes his carers or nurses (or we) couldn't get onto the drive to come and help him up in the morning or see to his medication. He regularly needed an ambulance as he became more unwell. Fucking selfish parents parking in the way hindered that.

Parents who obstruct residents' access are the pig ignorant ones. I don't know if this is the case here but it's something that posters should consider before name calling the residents.

I don't think they'd be getting so uptight if it was just a case of not wanting someone to park there twice a day.

Buying a house near a school and then complaining that people go near your house to get to the school is being pig ignorant!

Nah, what's pig ignorant is not engaging brain cells and realising schools get extended! It's this kind of attitude that fucks people living by schools off and makes them be a little less accommodating.

Also, I'd think long and hard before blocking someone's drive. I would, and have, boxed any dickhead who's tried that one in. Surprisingly common problem.

Hunter you aren't a dickhead if you park, entirely legally, over an empty drive when the person who's drive it is has deliberately parked on the road to ensure that you can't park somewhere more considerate.

I would contact the local press or even the Jeremy vine show. I suggest him as he did a piece about my friend about something disability related and the whole team were great( much to my surprise).

Move the cones. They have no legal standing if they are just put their by the residents, if I understand correctly.

Sounds like a bunch of arseholes to me.

Like the imaginary buses that have room for lots of SN buggies

Weird thing to say and very rude. Stagecoach Matrix buses have a wheelchair space and 3 spaces for buggies/luggage. They have flip down seats for when they aren't being used.

Excellent memory MrsDevere A shame your manners are up to the same standard.

descalinadescalina obviously not what I was referring to. Just making the point that when it happens to me, that's what I do.

I was responding to an idiotic comment up thread.