To be exasperated at school parking situation?

[hibbledibble]

I walk past a local school to get my children to school every day. Despite there being lots of available safe spaces to park locally, parents choose to park on the pavement (often all 4 wheels on the pavement) rather than park 50-100m away from the school and walk.

It is really dangerous, both for the school's children who have to walk in the road as a result, and local parents.

I have contacted police, who have said it is up to the school to manage the situation. Fair enough, I understand they are very overstretched at the moment. Parking wardens don't attend despites requests.

School are saying it is nothing to do with them and it is for the council to manage.

Any ideas how to manage? It is really dangerous, and thesr parents are often aggressive as well, if asked to move off the pavement.

It isn't "up to the school to manage the situation": it's up to the council, and the police shouldn't be ducking the issue if there is illegal and unsafe parking going on. The school should be telling parents to park safely & considerately but they can't enforce it.

If you & your child are having to walk in the road to get around cars parked on the pavement, contact the roads & highways department at the relevant local authority (it might be called something different in your area) to tell them where & at what times it's happening. If they don't respond, or fob you off, go to the councillor for the ward where the school is located.

Sounds like the school I live opposite. It's a nightmare and the problem parents are aggressive and rude, even park on our driveways.
The school sending out letters and the council sending out traffic wardens have helped. So give that a go 👍🏻

It’s true that it’s not the school’s fault but ours did sth quite clever by publishing the first half of dangerous parker’s Number plates in the newsletter. It deterred plenty

This sounds exactly like the school we walk past. The police did take it seriously and said they would try and patrol it also to take photos and send to the school which I have and now the school puplish them in the weekly newsletter. It seems to be working although I do get dirty looks sometimes

Same problem at ours, parking on double yellows, corners, they drive right onto the pavements where children are walking. One thing the school gave done is teach the parking rules to the children, who are very good at shaming their own parents when they park dangerously. At least the next generation will be a bit more considerate.

Ask the school to ask the council for help.

I’m a chair of governors. We asked for help. The council sporadically sends round a CCTV car which then keeps people on their toes and stops most of the stupid parking. Plus we instigated a ‘walking bus’ which has worked wonderfully (not least of all for me, if I’m working at home I can wave the kids off at the gate and get on with my day 15 minutes earlier than usual) plus the kids love it. I am the ‘bus driver’ on my day off work every week. It’s hugely reduced vehicles at school.

I don't know a school where parking is not an issue!

Our headteachers stood in the car park this afternoon shooing away the parents who are not supposed to park in it. The car park itself was safer to cross and the bus could get in and out, but in the immediate vicinity chaos ensued.

I recall, while touring Scotland, driving close by a school at leaving time (may have been in Ayr). I was amazed that parents had sensibly parked so far away from the gates, then saw a massive yellow banner tied to the railings which read something along the lines of “parking by our gates is both ignorant and dangerous”.

Thought that was an excellent idea.

Ugh yes we have this problem at my school too. The road is so so narrow which results in parents parking half on pavement. Iv tried to park on the road but then there is always some numpty that parks directly opposite resulting in the road being blocked and those huge 4x4s can not get past. I dont want my car stratched yet again so more times than not im afraid im guilty of parking half on the pavement (im sorry! But i always leave enough room for a buggy!) Iv also challenged parents that have either blocked me in or parked across driveways/pedestrian drop curbs and have been told ‘im only going to be 2 mins’ and leave their cars parked inconsideratly 😞

In many parts of England there are local elections soon. So getting a prospective candidate to contact the police as well could be done.

Start a social media account with a few photos and post them (perhaps placing a teddy bar or soft toy by the car as an excuse to take the photo) to name and shame people.

The option that unfortunately will never be considered would be to give preference in secondary school allocations to those who walk to school with their parents, or bad parking meaning being back of the queue. If people are prepared to go to church for a couple of years having 'rediscovered' their faith, I am sure walking a few yards more would happen.

The option that unfortunately will never be considered would be to give preference in secondary school allocations to those who walk to school with their parents, or bad parking meaning being back of the queue. If people are prepared to go to church for a couple of years having 'rediscovered' their faith, I am sure walking a few yards more would happen.

To get their child into the school they want they lie about believing in God and going to church; they are going to lie about walking to school until their noses make Pinocchio's look snub!

This is a joke and I'd never do it, but I'm always tempted to carry a permenant marker and just hold it as I walk down a pavement or path. If I draw on your car, that's your hard luck!

You could take photos of all the offending cars and report on FixMyStreet? That's been fairly successful round here with vehicles parked illegally (as well as abandoned cars, potholes etc)

In my area reports like this would go straight to the council. Worth a shot. Each car, separate photo, separate report (including registration)

I think it’s the same everywhere. Selfish parking drives me nuts!

Our school use to be the same, despite a huge car park. The headteacher occasionally dons a high vis waistcoat and shouts at parents who try parking there 😂

Our Head tried that, one parent tried to run her over, another swore obscenities at her

We have that too inconsiderate twats who park where ever they like. This morning someone actually stopped where the lollipop lady crosses to unload her brood

There isn’t a school where parking isn’t an issue and it’s been going on for years.

I expect though, when teachers have to pay for parking their cars on school premises, ther chill becmore spaces because they won’t be able to afford the parking charge and will be dragging suitcases of books and equipment on foot.

Our local schools are the favourite hangout place for traffic wardens at pick up time!

I also had a problem with cars parked on the sidewalk forcing me to walk on the street as my stroller could not squeeze past. I was ignored when I reported it so I sent a written notice to the school and local police stating that I was notifying them in writing so that there would be a paper trail if someone got hurt and wanted to sue them. Amazingly the problem was sorted within a week.

Thank you. These are all great suggestions, apart from the marker pen, which would be criminal damage!

This isn't an issue at other local schools, as parents manage to park safely. Just this school! This does give me some faith that something can be done, if other schools manage.

I would love a big sign as suggested “parking by our gates is both ignorant and dangerous”.

Same problem at our school, same parents everyday parking in dangerous places, blocking drives, parking on yellow lines and parking fully on grass verges turning them into a muddy mess. The residents complain, school put it on newsletter, police or maybe police community support officers, ( not sure) attend for a couple of days, it improves but then as soon as they don't come anymore the same irresponsible parents go back to inconsiderate parking.

I really don't think they will solve it. Like you say, the parents are often aggressive. They are a "certain type" of parent at our school. The kids are also chips off the old block too, rude and inconsiderate.

It always astounds me how lazy and selfish people are! I'm obese but am perfectly capable of parking a few hundred yards away then walking . I would never even think of parking over someones driveway or on zig zags but parents do it everyday and don't seem to think twice about it!

behind do you remember where the school was? Sounds like Ayr Grammar.