Parents are calling for an end to dangerous parking around Ashdene Primary School, fearing that unless the culprits are forced to be more considerate an accident will happen.
The above photo was taken at approximately 9am on Monday, 25th November, and shows that one driver decided to pull up on the park off Gravel Lane and South Oak Lane when dropping off at the nearby primary school.
Louise Chrimes who took the pictures is absolutely furious, and along with other parents, is calling on the Council and Police to help resolve the problem.
She said "It's not the parking I suppose, it's the fact they had to drive through the park to get to that point!
"This is just one example of the awful situation we have at Ashdene. As a mother of two and a childminder, the safety of the children in my care is paramount. Roads are dangerous at the best of times, but when people are mounting pavements, double parking, abandoning cars in the park (!) it is increasingly difficult to keep pedestrians safe.
"The council and police need to do something about this urgently before it is too late. Something terrible is going to happen, the school has tried to be supportive and are constantly reminding parents to park safely but they are getting nowhere. It is getting worse. If it takes a child getting injured before action will be taken, then I hope many people will hang their heads in shame."
Helen Culwick, mother of two young children, aged three and five, who attend the pre-school and primary school, added "The road safety situation around Ashdene school is of major concern to many parents at the school and the neighbouring pre-school. It's being made worse by four building sites in close proximity to the school as well as at the school itself.
"This example is extreme but cars park up on kerbs and blocking junctions every morning and afternoon, and are making the approach to school hazardous. I worry that if things carry on like this it's more a question of 'when' than 'if' there will be an accident."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Perhaps if all the building and infill had not been allowed then Ashdene school would not be so large -over 400 children?
Surely the answer for schools is an exclusion zone where parking is forbidden at dropping off and
collection times.
No mention of the chaos on the bypass when the fit and healthy youths are collected by their mummies in case it rains!!
Regarding the need to drive as a way of avoiding the "other idiots" on the road, well unless you park next to the school front gate you will be a pedestrian for some part of your journey, so it is in everyone's interest to get this sorted out!