It's a school run parking thread.

[Cactuscactus]

WIBU to complain to the school about parking in the local area this late in the year? Yes there is a diagram, so my descriptions are quite spartan.

We live in a smallish village, on a road of about 10 detached houses that face onto fields. We are in a block of 8 houses, then a turning into a cul de sac, 2 more houses then the school at the end of the road before a junction. (Relevant because this set up isn't clear on the diagram.)

The school have a paragraph in every months newsletter dedicated to reminding parents to park 'considerately to the schools neighbours'. Of course the parents don't pay attention to this or I wouldn't have a complaint. The school also put out little a-boards with notices reminding parents that parking on double yellows/turnings and zig zags is potentially dangerous. Again, no fucks given.

Every day, twice a day I have seen (on rotation) the same 3 cars park one wheel on the double yellows and one wheel over a neighbours dropped kerb. Not so worried about the dropped kerb as I am about the dangerous nature of this parking. The road we live on is only just wide enough for two passing cars, buses and (particularly at this time of year) farm traffic. Parking on those double yellows makes anyone turning right out of the cul de sac have to blindly turn wide onto the opposite side of the road and into on coming traffic (over taking the parked cars).

There is also a growing trend for trying to squeeze a car on the end of a row of properly parked cars, often with most of the car actually parked across a driveway (see "stupidly parked wanker" on diagram).
I have also caught two separate cars attempting to park in my driveway when I've been to drop DD off at nursery.

I'm just getting fed up with the don't care attitude. I often feel like I'm the intruder on my own street for asking cars to move or not park there. Since the weather has been nice, some parents have even turned up early to sunbathe on the front lawn, it's just rude.
So, is it worth complaining to the school with only a fortnight to go? Or should I wait until September and see what fresh parking hell the new school year brings?

Diagram - its more like artwork!

I am guessing P = parent (as well as neighbour)

or P= prick

or P=police officer

I'm pretty sure this is the school my ds will be starting in Sept (I recognise that horse!)

This school could equally well be my friend's children's school in Devon!

Definitely complain now, don't wait 'til next term. Get photos, take reg numbers, and send it to the school and the Council.

I dont drive. But contact whoever it is that sorts traffic warden visits out.

We have regular drives (pardon the pun) outside our school because of this. Mind you there is the odd one or two who still blatantly park on the zigzags because they can afford it.

Magnificent diagram!

I can't believe they sunbathe on your lawn! What cheeky fuckers!

People sunbathe on your lawn?

Seriously?

Pressure washer at the very least!!

Okay. Bit worried that there is at least one poster who may know exactly where I live now .

Sorry to delay in replying- traffic, bedtime and our dinner got in the way.

Ahh neighbour P. Accidentally left you with a mystery. My OP was incredibly long when I read it back so I deleted the paragraph involving neighbour P.
She's an older lady who has lived here for at least 10 years so knows some of the mums. She has an agreement with one who parks on her drive and is friendly with one or two who park slightly over her kerb. Though (according to the neighbours between us and P) she has had problems with others parking on her drive without asking and blocking her in.
This was relevant as the man who used to own our house also had agreements with a couple of mums to park on the drive but we haven't had anyone come to our door and ask if the agreement still stands.

I really wouldn't mind if anyone did, I'm a SAHM so can always alter my day so that I'm not leaving/arriving at those times. It's just the people who park without asking. It drives me up the wall.

Thanks for the useful (and not so useful) suggestions. I might contact the parish council, they seem to be more efficient than the local council.
And I'm quite flattered that you like the diagram. The 6 years I spent studying art didn't go completely to waste.

Just out of curiosity, those of you who reckon you know where I live, name the local pub.

I would find that really annoying. Have they mentioned a previous agreement when they have parked on your drive or is this a different person?

Oh and to answer a few questions.

Yes. Sunbathing. Seriously. But only two incidents of it. Next time I'm going to get the hose.

They can't park on the opposite side as it's a very thin strip of level grass that drops into a ditch and a hedge. You'd then have to get yourself and your children out on the road side of the car. Not safe really.

The shared drive is split down the middle by a strip of grass with raised edging and a large tree stump at the end. Our lawn has a tree in the corner quite close to the pavement/drive. If someone parks on the end of our drive (as they do) it's impossible to get out of the drive without hitting the tree or driving over the stump. I could potentially drive across the grass strip and off the neighbours drive but he is often in so his car blocks that route.

Like I said, it's more the entitlement. That they don't care it's someone's driveway. Not so much the blocking me in as I rarely go out at those times as the parking elsewhere on the road just makes getting out of the village stressful.

ophiotaurus I don't know if the people I found parked on the drive were the people with an agreement.

The first one actually parked on the end of the drive right as I was indicating to pull into the drive. I pulled onto next doors and asked if she wouldn't mind me parking and she could pull back on behind me. Very politely as I know it's difficult to park near schools so thought she'd appreciate the offer.
She just looked very embarrassed, apologised and drove away. She hasn't been back. She may have been one of those who had the previous agreement but why not just knock on the door when my car is parked on the drive? Why be sneaky and park when it's obvious I'm out?

The others who've parked on or across the drive I've photographed but only one I asked to move as I had to go out. She was a bit and I'm fairly sure she parked straight back on the drive after I left.

It's shit but the problem is that the school actually have zero control over the road outside - we have loads of issues at our school and this was a big topic at our Parent Forum.

They can approach the council to get a PCSO out but if there are no resources for it then there really is very little the school can actually do.

We are going with parent-parent appeals for consideration via our school Facebook page and may move onto child led guilt trips from September - think horrible pics on fag packets type approach!!

People are just dicks at the end of the day!

@op

Do you mean the bell? And is the car that parks on the drive orange by any chance?

If it really is the same cars each time, I would:

First day: Note on windscreen.
Second day: Note glued to windscreen.
Third day: Note superglued to windscreen.
Fourth day: on top of bonnet.

Not saying I always handle conflicts perfectly, but it's an idea.

I'll say The Bell too. I'm dreading the school run in September.

The pub local to the school in Devon that I'm thinking of is also the bell!

Honestly, op, don't worry about whether one of us lives near you, there are a million schools with sinilar parking problems, at the end of cul de sacs, with a local pub called the bell. I think you're safe.

Bit of a trick question as our village has two 'local' pubs. Neither is The Bell though.
No orange car either, sorry to disappoint!

Bit spooky that somewhere out there, someone has a near identical house/school set up though.

Yeah your right very spooky.. especially as I walked past that 'tree stump' right in the middle of the drive ( on a patch of grass I might add ) about 50 mins ago.. Don't worry I completely agree with you on the parking thing. People have no respect and are quite happy to be a nuisance. Especially one ass hat that because they have a BMW think they can park on the zig zag yellow lines.

Get the council to put big rocks/bollards on the grass verge so there is no room for anyone to park. Most won't risk trying to park near and damaging their cars.

A previous mner set up a neighbourhood patrol to stop people parking during the school run.

If it is a cul de sac could the council have 'residents only' access during drop off/pick up times?

Residents parking permits- all other cars get parking tickets.