I live in a cul de sac next to a primary school. Probably enough said.
My main issue is that the Local Authority decided to amlgamate two small primaries, sounds reasonable so far. To achieve this end they knocked down a ten year old school, built a new school in the playing field and sold off the 150 year old school for building.
The builders have gone bust, the new unfinished estate is not safe and the only way to the huts used by children guides/ Scouts is through a walkway now built by volunteers through the housing development. The Council have taken no responsibilty.
The new school is 4 times the size, the council refused to build a turning circle, because it was against their enviromental policy- give me strength. The school, is on a single carriage way very busy A Road.
The council decided that the way to resolve this was put double yellow lines in all the neighbouring streets, including mine, so now we can't park outside our house for fear of getting a ticket, but the parents can park there and drive off should they see a parking attendeant.
The head teacher is sympthathetic, but powerless, it is a nice area, but the worst performing school, with a falling birth rate. So the new enlarged school is filled by children driven in by their parents. Who do swear and are abusive.
However as a parent my main fear is that one of the children will be killed, due to careless driving, mouting kerbs, sitting in cars instead of collecting childen.
As a previously working mum, I used to park in a church car park and walk a little further to my childrens school.
I think poor planning and busy lives combine into a selfish mentality. Which is sad, this combined with politicians who live from election to election causes me to despair.
What is wrong with common sense and courtesy.
Parents work and need to be able to drop their children off safely.
Householders and other communters do not wnat to be abused, inconveinienced or harrased.
It is rude to block someones drive,
it is ridculous to block a road by parking adjacent to another parked car,
it is silly to park opposite a drive so the householder cannot reverse out,
no matter how late you are it is not acceptable to mount the pavement at speed, It is not acceptable to send your mum aunty gradma etc to get a good spot and arrive 30 mins or more early and block entire roads.
It is never reasonble to verbally abuse people who politely object to your behavior.
It is not as most parents/ police say only 15 mins twice a day. To be honest if that is the 15 mins when you would like to arrive or leave your home, it is a problem.
It is unforgiveable to abuse and malign, householders, older people, teachers and parking attendants who attempt to install order.
I have seen it all, I have even had to intervene as my 95 year old neighbour was told she shouldnt have bought a house near a F* school. As she waited for transport for an appointment. The fact the school wasnt built when the houses were seems to have escaped the chain smoking abusive parent.
On the other hand, these parents on whole do look normal, I wonder if they go home and are embarrased at their behavouir. If they realise the impact on the householders, if they ever put themselves in the householders place.
It is also ridiculous that child safety is compromised by poor planning stupid political decisions and rushed parenting.
My plea is that parents should have a safe haven to drop off their children. They may have to walk a little further. However it would make life safer for our children and less stressful for all.
If only mums were in charge!