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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ignore the school parking diktat?

456 replies

Ginmakesitallok · 25/01/2017 10:28

I drive to drop off andpick kids up from school - too far to walk and on my way to work. Its busy, but i usually get a space in the street beside school.

Theres a note in a recent school newsletter to say that parents shouldn't drive into this street, that there's no parking for parents there and that the yellow lines are for kids safety.

Now - it's a public road, no restricted parking, only yellow lines are at junctions where I'd never park. Surely the school can't think that it can stop parents parking where they want if they are parking legally??

OP posts:
CockacidalManiac · 25/01/2017 10:30

Ooooh.

Sirzy · 25/01/2017 10:31

Can you not just park slightly further away and walk in?

Presumably school are asking as a result of too many incidents/near misses?

JennyOnAPlate · 25/01/2017 10:32

Presumably the residents of the street have been complaining to the school about parking issues.

If you're parking legally on a public street, then the school can't tell you not to park there.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 25/01/2017 10:33

I could park further away - but why should I when there is legal parking available closer??

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 25/01/2017 10:34

Before ignoring it, perhaps you should contact the school and ask them to explain a bit more?

Perhaps it's a plea from the people who live in the street, if the congestion is causing them issues?

A lot of parents seem to want to park as close as possible to the school, rather than scatter their parking a few streets away, to avoid congestion.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 25/01/2017 10:34

I have no doubt it's bloody annoying for residents- but the majority have drives/garages. And the school has been there for a lot longer than they have, it's not as if it suddenly became busier.

OP posts:
LoneCat · 25/01/2017 10:35

I bet the school has had complaints from local residents.

School can ask you nicely not to park there. But I don't think they can enforce it.

Quimby · 25/01/2017 10:35

I'd ignore.

Obviously it's aimed at certain parents/dicks who are parking imconsiderately and causing problems.
but the solution isn't to try and dictate to others that they can't do something which is entirely legal or to try and claim some sort of dominion over a public space.

myfavouritecolourispurple · 25/01/2017 10:35

If it's legal parking, it's fine.

But remember that legal does not always equal considerate. For example, you could be parking opposite someone's driveway. Or very close to their driveway, blocking their view or making the angle that they come out at very difficult.

I never park opposite someone's driveway if I can see they'd have to reverse out. If they can drive out, I might do, as they can see me easily and it's easier to manoeuve when you are going forwards.

That's an example why the neighbours might be complaining. Or people might be parking on grass verges and churning them up.

WorraLiberty · 25/01/2017 10:37

Why should you park further away?

To be considerate of the residents and the children/parents trying to cross the congested roads directly next to the school.

As a lollipop lady I see this every day. People with a 'Why should I' attitude, when all it takes is a bit of thought.

A 5 minute walk to/from your car won't kill you.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 25/01/2017 10:38

You could go on pissing off the residents and next thing they will do is a CPZ.

That won't help you.
Just walk a bit longer, won't do you any harm.

NotThrowAwayMyShot · 25/01/2017 10:39

I used to live opposite a primary school. Terrace houses no drives. Due to a neighbour having a disabled space & yellow lines opposite parking was at a premium.

Never would I have dreamed of trying to tell someone they couldn't legally on a public road just because I happened to live there. As long as you are not blocking anyone in/out I would ignore.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 25/01/2017 10:39

But if there are legal, considerate spaces available why shouldn't I park there? Deal with the inconsiderate parking, don't try to tell me where I can or can't drive on a public road!

OP posts:
xStefx · 25/01/2017 10:40

I have this issue in my DS's school. The neighbours (who bought the house after the school was built) took it upon themselves to buy cones and block off half the street because they "felt" they had as right to as they were annoyed with parents parking there when picking their children up from school (for about 15 minutes everyday twice a day) . When I continued to park in the street they had the cheek to come and out threaten to call the police. I told them to call the police as they were breaking the law by blocking the road. The head mistress then had a word with me, I told her that if I had been asked politely not to park inn that street then I would comply but buying their own illegal cones and then threatening me with the police isn't the best way to go about it. She acknowledged that and I now park somewhere else. Still think the whole thing was bloody stupid and would love to run over all the cones.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 25/01/2017 10:41

CPZ??

If they make it controlled parking then I would obviously park somewhere else? But it's not.

OP posts:
JanuaryMoods · 25/01/2017 10:41

If a lot of people are parking there it could be deemed as obstruction and the police will issue tickets. Happens fairly often at a school near us.

WorraLiberty · 25/01/2017 10:42

And the school has been there for a lot longer than they have, it's not as if it suddenly became busier.

Are you sure about that?

In the 22 years I've lived in my house, the local primary school has gone from having 600 pupils (in 1995) to currently having 950 pupils.

Also, cars on the road have increased significantly during that time.

NotThrowAwayMyShot · 25/01/2017 10:43

Someone recently did try to tell me I couldn't park in the street near to my son's school thing was although my son was at that school I wasn't actually picking him up, he was staying at a club. By co-incidence I was visiting a business in that area just before normal school pick up. Needless to say I ignored them.

CuckooCuckooClock · 25/01/2017 10:43

Might it be for safety?

Parents park outside our school and it makes crossing the road safely very difficult. They're not doing anything illegal but they are putting children's lives at risk.

I consider those parents to be utter arses if they think parking five metres closer to school is more important than the safety of the children.

We have asked for double yellow lines but no joy so the head has requested that people park slightly further away. She has been ignored.

Original poster
Ginmakesitallok · 25/01/2017 10:45

We have lollipop people - never had an issue with crossing the road.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 25/01/2017 10:48

That's what I thought cuckoo.

Ds school have even gone to the lengths of arranging with a local church and pub that parents can use their car parks (one about 3 mins walk, the other about 5 no roads to cross) and arranged a walking bus ran by TAs to the school and yet parents still fight for the closest spaces, and although there are no official parking restrictions it makes it very dangerous.

It seems for some parents consideration goes out the window when it comes to parking at schools.

WickedGirl · 25/01/2017 10:48

We this this issue near our local primary school

Parents were parking legally but not very well which meant that a fire engine couldn't get down the road.

Schools will always have safety in mind when telling parents not to do something. The trouble is that everyone thinks they are allowed to still do it as it "isn't illegal".

Grow up and stop being so lazy

CuckooCuckooClock · 25/01/2017 10:49

Well if it's just for the residents convenience and not safety then ignore it.

Megatherium · 25/01/2017 10:49

Would it actually hurt you or your children to park a little further away and get a bit of exercise?

TheFairyCaravan · 25/01/2017 10:50

I have no doubt it's bloody annoying for residents- but the majority have drives/garages. And the school has been there for a lot longer than they have, it's not as if it suddenly became busier.

I bet it has become busier. People don't walk to their local school anymore, everyone seems to drive.

I'm a firm believer of just because you can doesn't mean you should.

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