To block the road I live on so people can't park there?

[namechangedpurelyforthis]

As the thread name suggests... I live on a private road. It's near a school. Parents park there all the time, sometimes on double yellows. They block our driveways and limit our access. Where would I legally stand if myself and other residents block the end of the road one day to block the cars in to send them the message that we won't put up with it any more?

@TattiePants I said at least twice in my post that inconsiderate parking should not be excused, so no, I don't think it's ok that drives be blocked.

@ColaFreezePop - well, clearly, if there's a permit zone then that's different, isn't it?

I can see both sides of this but really struggle to see how people who moved into an ungated new build estate directly opposite a school thought that they had a reasonable expectation of people never parking, considerately, during school pick up times.

For example my mum used to collect me from school but she parked some way up the road so I had to walk to her. If you are year 2 or below you can't do that anymore.

You need to have a residents meeting and all chip in for a more permanent solution, eg the chain or bollards or gates others have mentioned.

Cones and road signs can (and will be) moved and blocking people in will only work on those who are there at that time. A whole different crowd of parents may be there the next day.

You could of course take turns in parking a car across the entrance but that is hassle for the person who has to keep moving the car in order to let residents in or out, particularly in the morning where many may be going to work.

Get a chain would be my advice. Annoying for you all to have to get in and out to put it across, but worth it if it means you're not blocked in.

@ioioitsoff perhaps I'm just naive because until I actually lived here and then subsequently did the school run elsewhere with my own DCs, I didn't expect other parents to be so hard of thinking. In my case, all three schools are secondary and predominantly serve their catchment area. I stupidly assumed most 11-18 year olds wouldn't need driving to the school gates!

Makes no difference if the school was there or not. The school should be writing to parents stating that they are upsetting the neighbours by parking in the private road and should park considerately elsewhere or walk to school.

I live on a private road. We get random bastards parking there. I’ve even seen one piss up against one of our trees, peasant! His car got smothered in mayonnaise that he left behind when him and his friends decided to dump their take away in our road that we clean and tend to

Is it reasonable to beep at parents who stop the car on a narrow road with double lines in front of a school?

I don’t live on the road but I have to drive on it to get to work and I’m often delayed by parents who put their hazards on and just sit there

Is it legal to stop at double yellow lines?

Dds primary school is just beside a private road. There are some really inconsiderate parents but no one ever parks in there. This surprises me because parents park on the double yellows just outside the school gates etc. Parents of older children also drop and run by stopping on the road and letting their children walk the last few metres alone. The school regularly asked parents to stop doing both.

The school asked a PCSO to come down every now and again to stop parents from doing both. You could try this method along with a notice reading “trespassers will be prosecuted” and “video surveillance in use” signs.

I can’t find who said they have the only disabled badge and someone uses the space. I would park behind them and block them in every single day. I have a bb. Bastards.

I’m with you on blocking them out, every single time. And complain to the school that it’s not showing them in a good light. That’d get the Heads back up (I work in a school and our Head would be furious).

I don’t think yabu.
Same happens at my daughters school. We have to walk past every morning and there’s always 3-4 cars right by the entrance all idling with their engines on.
It’s horrible to breath in the fumes and really irritates me every morning.
It should be stopped everywhere.

You can get an FB padlock that has a standard key the Fire Service carry. I don't know if ambulances carry a key.

A gate or barrier does not have to be closed or locked all the time. There are probably a few hours in the day. most of the time you could close but not lock it.

Another vote for the chain and padlock over at busy times.

Its illegal and if it were me I'd come along and move your blockage.

How can blocking private land be illegal (as long as the landowner agrees). That's nonsense.

Just a thought, if two of you park touching a parked cars bumpers, they will be stuffed.
They never return.

I now live far far away from my boy’s school so I drive them, eldest is 14 and we pass his school on the way so I drop him off. Then take the 2 youngest to their school and park in a little parking bay a short walk to school never in front of a drive way though can’t understand anyone who would do this, clearly they don’t give a shit.

Recently school sent a message our asking people to not park inconsiderately and to not sit with their engine on whilst waiting for kids. There were replies saying that the car needed to be warm for kids getting in, and there is no parking nearby - village school yes but plenty parking and most kids live in the village so can walk easily to a car/home. I really miss walking to school with my kids and hoping to get a house back in the village before they are too old.

I honestly think if a school is causing this much of a nuisance to neighbours then they should be doing something to combat it, more than sending out letters.

Teachers stand at the gates in the morning, maybe a couple could stand at the entrance to this private road to turn parents away, or else the parent volunteers could help out.

Schools do need to take responsibility for their surroundings when it's parents causing issues.

Put a sign up stating you are selling parking spots for before and after school time slots at 20 pounds a week. 50% of proceeds to be donated to the school funds and the rest to pay a stipend for a parking monitor. Then sell 2 or 4 spots (whatever fits easily in the road) and find a retired person who would like to earn a little money and is happy to monitor the parking.

@tentative3 I don't park there, my child gets the bus in to school. But I maintain my position that those who bought houses there shouldn't be surprised that a few parents do.

So to avoid being blocked in, you're going to block yourselves in? Is it a problem being blocked in or not? I see the hard of thinking have arrived.

Its illegal and if it were me I'd come along and move your blockage. On a private road they can do what they like - put up a gate, a bollard etc.

We live on a gated road with remote control access for residents. A gate would be very expensive to have fitted, but perhaps a barrier or a bollard that collapses into the ground. All of these things can allow emergency access, ours does.

Here's one I just found on barriersdirect , it costs 1,700 inc VAT

Definitely club together and get a barrier!

Our school say they are a school not a police force and will not police parking issues.

Someone on here lived on a road near a school and her neighbours organised to park their cars on all available parking spaces on the road around school run time. You need to make it more difficult and more awkward for the parents.

Presumably, even though it's possible to have a barrier or gates or bollards on a private road, they still need planning permission?

I understand your frustration, OP. I'd join in with a blockade, but agree with PP that you need a more long term solution.

Parking is atrocious in my village, between the school run traffic, and commuters for the train station abandoning cars everywhere, it is a real hassle at times for residents. Before Christmas 3 cars were towed away for unsafe parking (2 were in a box junction) and it was a moment of real satisfaction for me

I would initially just try a road closed/private road sign and some cones to block the entrance at 9am and 3pm everyday.

Our school say they are a school not a police force and will not police parking issues.

I really think that's shocking. Obviously it's not ideal for them to get involved with parking issues, but when it's very clearly parents from their school that are causing major issues like this it's pretty bad of them not to help with a solution.

If it was a shop or supermarket whose customers were constantly causing chaos they would likely be forced into dealing with it. Schools should be the same.

Definitely get a bollard or a gate that you can lock with a key (as others have said the FB carry universal keys to FB locks).

I feel your pain op. I used to live near a secondary school. I could not believe the number of parents that literally wanted to park as close as possible. Whatever happened to the shame of being dropped off by your parents? At my old school, kids would demand to be let out around the corner

I would block people in if they were blocking my drive, or I'd sit with my hand on the horn until they moved.