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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

School Parking - Is this fair?

148 replies

Powerless · 08/10/2018 16:17

Just a quick one!

My 3yr old DD goes to a Pre-School within the grounds of an Infant & Primary School. I am disabled and have been told it's ok to use the Disabled Bay to park when picking DD up. Great!

She finishes at 3:20pm

Problem is, they close the gates at 3pm until 3:40pm, during which a coach reverses in (which they open the gates for, obvs) and this unfortunately, blocks us in!

The blocking in until 3:40 I'm not overly worried about. Plenty of play equipment for madam and it's no big deal. But having to be there by 2:55-ish before gates closed, then sit for 25 mins in my car before Nursery finishes is really getting to me.

Yes it's only 25 mins and yes there are worse problems in the world. However she's there 4 days a week so it's 1 hour & 40 minutes per week of wasted time. It also means that from setting off to getting home, it's an hour. Just for pick up. When we live less than a mile away.

I had a word with Reception today and the lady just told me it was tough luck! That if I want to use Disabled parking then that's what has to happen!

Do I complain further? Or just suck it up?

Please be nice, I'm not insisting on special treatment, I'm not insisting I'm right, I'm just asking your opinion on it....? Thanks

OP posts:

Finfintytint · 08/10/2018 16:23

Could she released 20 minutes early?

Saucery · 08/10/2018 16:24

I can see your point, it is a bit annnoying, but not much different from having to set off early to get a parking space near school, which many parents do. Moving the coach will affect the safety of the children boarding it and around it.

Handsfull13 · 08/10/2018 16:25

I would complain once more just in case they can do something for you. If not I'd suck it up and find something to do for 20 mins in the car that makes it feel less wasted.

I'm currently sitting in my car while my kids finished their nap. I could be here for a while so I use it to catch up on MN, news, fb and I have a book in here as it's the only time I get to read quietly.

HeyMacWey · 08/10/2018 16:26

Do you have a blue badge? Is there not anywhere else that you could park nearby?

They're unlikely to change the current arrangements given that the coach is presumably to pick up pupils at the school and it's safer to do so on school grounds.

Could you use your time waiting a bit more productively? Sort food shop? Read a book? Catch up on personal admin?

Janleverton · 08/10/2018 16:26

Unfortunately I think you have to suck it up. It’s a question of weighing up the benefit to you in terms of ease of pick up rather than having to try and park outside the site, against the inconvenience of getting there early for before the gates are locked. If there is nowhere accessible outside of the site, then really there isn’t another option I imagine.

Our school locks the gates like this because loads of parents used to try and drive into the site, which then conflicted with the kids walking off the site with their parents. It was dangerous. So it was a safety decision. I can’t work out whether this is the same in your case.

But anyway, in the absence of an easy solution I’m not sure that there’s much the school can do.

I drive to school in the afternoon (because I have to, straight from work and there wouldn’t be time to drive home then walk to school) and pretty much get parked a couple of hundred metres away and read a book while listening to the radio. It’s enforced downtime which is good and bad at the same time!

FittonTower · 08/10/2018 16:26

It doesn't seem very fair that because of your disability you are having to wait 25 minutes before you can set off home. Can you pick her up a bit early or something?

Original poster

Powerless · 08/10/2018 16:27

@Finfintytint Don't want to have to make her the odd one out because of parking :( It would solve it, but given that she has ASD, I'm already conscious paranoid about her being the different one! X

OP posts:

Redglitter · 08/10/2018 16:28

I don't imagine complaining will make a difference. They have those rules for a reason.

It's only 25 mins though. Make the most of it. Take a coffee with you, stick on the radio, read a book. Or kill time on your phone

Original poster

Powerless · 08/10/2018 16:29

@HeyMacWey I do have a Blue Badge, yes. Nowhere else I can park that wouldn't cause an obstruction

OP posts:

ProfessorMoody · 08/10/2018 16:30

If you have a blue badge, the coach needs to not block you in. If they did that to me, I'd be complaining all the way, as my bowel condition would make sure I needed to be out of that space pronto.

Original poster

Powerless · 08/10/2018 16:31

I guess you're right. I like that term 'enforced downtime!'

I don't want to be that disabled person with a massive entitled attitude. I think I will take after the PP above and take a book! :) Thanks!

OP posts:

Allthewaves · 08/10/2018 16:34

Where do other parents park? Would it be possible for member of preschool staff to walk her to your car?

lalalalyra · 08/10/2018 16:34

If they have someone opening the gates to let the coach in could you not ask them if you could follow the coach in?

You'll not block the coach as you'll be leaving 20 minutes before it, and that way you wouldn't be blocked either.

BlackrockMum · 08/10/2018 16:36

I don't think its really a case of is something fair or not, its obviously happening that way with gate for a reason, but maybe you need to explore more with school if there are other options, for example who opens gate for bus, does bus arrive at a set time that you could coordinate with? could you get a spare key?

Tiredofit · 08/10/2018 16:36

I think you either need to find somewhere suitable to park outside the gates or find something to occupy yourself while you wait. I spend a lot of time sitting in the car whilst my boys are at piano/cello/violin lessons and orchestra rehearsals because I can’t afford double the petrol costs to go home and come back again. I read, do the online shopping, listen to music etc. 25 minutes doesn’t sound too bad.

AlexanderHamilton · 08/10/2018 16:40

It’s very common for schools to have a no vehicles on or off site whilst the school bus is collecting. It’s for the safety of the kids & applies to staff, parents & external facilities hirers.

dustiseverywhere · 08/10/2018 16:41

I used to have this so parked on the single yellow line outside the school, which with a blue badge you can do for three hours , or even a double yellow. It was a minute extra to walk each day but worked better for me.

AlexanderHamilton · 08/10/2018 16:43

I used to run after school classes at a school. I either had to arrive before 2.55pm or wait until after 3.15pm or I couldn’t access the site in my vehicle.

Sirzy · 08/10/2018 16:43

As frustrating as it is I can fully get why they close of the car park. You need to balance up between parking a bit further out and getting away quicker or the benefits of the space.

Hillarious · 08/10/2018 16:43

I absolutely wouldn't mind the getting there early with the enforced down time, but would be more frustrated by not having the freedom to go home immediately. However, that seems not to be a cause for concern.

JeanPagett · 08/10/2018 16:44

I agree that talking to the school further / exploring other options sounds sensible before resigning yourself to a long wait everyday.

Could you perhaps park on yellow lines etc slightly further away? Or is there somewhere else in the school you could be accommodated? (Obviously that might not be suitable depending on the nature of your disability)

I don't think it's kicking up a big fuss to enquire politely...

DBN1 · 08/10/2018 16:44

If they have someone opening the gates to let the coach in could you not ask them if you could follow the coach in?

You'll not block the coach as you'll be leaving 20 minutes before it, and that way you wouldn't be blocked either This.

mumsastudent · 08/10/2018 16:49

if your daughter is waiting in the car with you do reading with her

FruitofAutumn · 08/10/2018 16:49

YABU They lock the gates for the safety of the children . I think that comes before your inconvenience!

Original poster

Powerless · 08/10/2018 16:50

Some great ideas, thanks everyone! I thought I was going to be ripped to shreds in AIBU!

I thought about the yellow lines, but the road system outside the school is all them diagonal lines they have outside schools. Can't walk any further.

I will email the school re: suggestions made on here. If no solution from that then I'll just enjoy the free time!

Thanks again

OP posts:

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