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Taken from Bristol Evening Post 30th August Today

AN agreement has been reached between residents and council leaders in a long-running row over parking outside a school in Bristol

Zigzag lines and "keep clear" notices will be introduced in ****** Close as a first step to tackle problems caused by parents who drive into the cul-de-sac to drop off and collect their children.

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They won't be in place until after the start of the new school term but a meeting date has already been set for October to assess their success.

If the problems persist, further action will be taken, including making parking restrictions permanent.

If nothing else works, a turning space could even be created within the school grounds.

****** ***** School is at the end of the cul-de-sac, which has a sign warning there is no vehicle access to the building.

But some parents, who have been branded lazy, ignore it and drive in to get as close as possible to the school, which residents say leads to traffic chaos.

Householders have complained that some park on pavements, others block drives, some have crashed into residents' cars and a few become aggressive if challenged.

When the residents then discovered the school would be expanding to accept 60 more children this year – twice the normal intake – and another 60 in 2012, they said action had to be taken.

They threatened to block the road when the school returned after the summer holiday, leading to a meeting being called between householders, South Gloucestershire Council, governors and local councillors.

Resident Peter Lake, , said: "We knew there would have to be a compromise but hopefully the first phase of action will be enough to resolve matters.

"The fact that this is being taken seriously should be enough to deter some parents from continuing to come into the close."

The neighbours had suggested introducing a one-way system to allow parents to drive into ****** ***** and out via a road on the other side of the school.

But that would be too expensive as a new road would have to be installed.

However, the residents did make sure a grassed area in the close would remain after comments were made that wrongly implied householders would be happy for it to be given over to parking.

They were also told a car park reached from The ******, with a path leading to the school, would be expanded.

But there was some doubt such work was necessary as few parents made use of it, preferring to get closer to the school by using ****** *****.

Mr Lake said residents did not oppose expansion of the school, which will involve a new temporary classroom being erected, but were fed up with the amount of traffic causing chaos in their close and posing a danger to children and residents.

But if the did take that grassed area for parking it would only extend it from the current six spaces to a max of what, ten or twelve?

And you can guarantee that there would be lots of dented cars if they tried.

BTW, congrats on getting some action taken

Bryn Mawr;1367635 wrote: But if the did take that grassed area for parking it would only extend it from the current six spaces to a max of what, ten or twelve?

And you can guarantee that there would be lots of dented cars if they tried.

BTW, congrats on getting some action taken


Thanks Bryn.

You are absolutely right... To remove the small green area would make a max of 8 - 10 spaces but despite signs being put In saying 'Residents Parking only', no doubt parents would park In them leaving the residents unable to get In or out of their homes.

I found It ludicrous that the council were proposing attracting more parent cars to a small close that is a dead end.

I didn't get all my own way and to get no waiting restrictions etc etc and a turning round area Inside the school, I had to concede and agree to losing some of the field outside my home to a car park but this Is only going to be an extra 10 spaces so we won't lose the field entirely.

I also got a disabled parking bay for one of the residents In the Close who found parents parked outside his house all day.

We also got a new zebra crossing on the other side of the school on the main road because the school continued to diversify and expand without heeding the danger to children on foot.

All In all, a good outcome.

Congratulations on your victory.

LarsMac;1367641 wrote: Congratulations on your victory. Thank You

It is going to be about a month before the new measures are put In place.... so day one, yesterday, start of the new term with the Increase of pupils.

My husband leaves to go the hospital and can not get out of our lane. Was It a new parent unaware of the signs that access was required at all times and no parking? No.. A school support staff parked across the entrance to my lane and blocked us In our home. My husband asked her what she thought she was doing and she replied that he would have to wait. I don't think so !!! My husband did not swear at her or call her an ugly, obese, lazy bitch which was what he was thinking but did have to shout slightly to be overheard over her telling him how Important she was.

He returns from the hospital and the police are In the Close... The head teacher had called them because apparently she was frightened I was going to block the road.... she really must stop believing all that Is written In newspapers !!!

Anyway... they were not real police but PCSO's.

There Is chaos with parent cars at this point while my husband Is trying to get Into the Close. One parent has threatened violence against a resident and then he turns on the PCSO. He then threatens to call for back up. All my husband wanted to do was In the Close so he could get to our house. On seeing my husband, the PCSO starts on him saying he had allegations made about him from this school support person. Meanwhile, unknown to us, a small child was almost mown down In the next road by a bus and the parent has gone ballistic.

Nothing Is moving In the Close... cars are parked up on pavements, cars are parked across dropped kerbs, one car Is parked half In and half out of number 16's private drive, there Is gridlock right down the Close and backed up the next road and parents who can barely drive, let alone park or reverse are reversing to get out In a residents private drive.

Rather than deal with this absolute chaos and direct to traffic to ensure the safety of small children exiting the school on foot, PSCO decides It far better to start laying Into my husband verbally telling him he has been officially warned. One parent and friend of my husbands begins shouting at PSCO telling him he has no capacity to give warnings or anything else. PSCO's warning Is based purely on the school support persons word and false allegations have been made. I expose my umbrage and phone the IPCC. As the school support member pleaded that she deliberately blocked my lane because she did not see the 'Access required at all times, no parking' sign and did not see my husband trying to exit the lane, I placed a formal complaint to the Avon police for driving without due care and attention.

Around 7 pm last night, Police Sargeant arrives at my house to deal with my complaint. Two hours later, my husband and I decide he Is a thoroughly decent copper and thank him for handling the situation as he did which was In total support of us after he had dealt with the PSCO. That PCSO, I doubt won't be trying to be so officious In the future. !!!!

Day two of the new school term today.... Total bloody chaos which was actually so bad that my local MP came down and got Involved.

And this folks Is what happens when schools systematically diversify primary schools Into community schools when the Infrastructure of the roads can not deal with the traffic especially when the school and council put In no measures over the years to help parents or residents.