We’re raging over ignorant parents who block our drives on the school run

NEIGHBOURS of a busy primary school have blasted “ignorant” school-run parents who block their drives at pick-up.

Locals living near Parkgate School in Coventry, West Mids, are often stuck in their homes during the school run “bedlam” – and it’s only getting worse.

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Mums and dads hurl abuse at residents when they’re asked to move.

But despite the chaos, locals say the school won’t help at all – and instead urge residents to direct complaints to the police and council.

Frustrated homeowner Mark Watt has resorted to parking his own car across his driveway because he was getting blocked in so often.

Mark, 64, said: “It’s bedlam every day, twice a day. 

“I’ve had this house 34 years and it’s just got progressively worse.

“People seem to be more inconsiderate, ignorant and with no regard for safety.

“They will park directly across my drive without a second’s thoughts.

“My mum is 91, I had to take her to the hospital – I couldn’t get out.

“I have to leave my car outside which means I’m risking getting a ticket, just so I can get out of my own drive.

“I’ll come home and I can’t get on my drive.

“I beep my horn but they won’t move. I say ‘ I want to get onto my drive’ but they will not move.

“Every now and again there’s a parking warden but it’s not being policed. Parents know they can get away with it.

“I have to plan my day around the school run.”

Mr Watt, who works in the aviation industry, added: “My wife has been out there remonstrating with parents and she gets abuse thrown at her.

“The school has offered no help whatsoever. I know that some of the teachers and teaching assistants park here because there’s not enough space in the school car park.

“We’ve expressed our concerns but they do not want to know.”

TRAFFIC CHAOS

When the Sun visited the primary school – which has 668 pupils on its books – at pick up time there were scenes of chaos with cars parked on zig-zags, double yellow lines and across driveways.

Cars were bunched up more than 30 minutes before the 3.15pm school bell with parents desperate to secure a spot.

Parents are told on the Parkgate website that the school is “not legally able” to get involved with parking issues and that complaints should be directed to the police and council.

Outside the school, parents described parking as a “complete lottery” and warned that pupils’ safety was endangered.

Dad-of-three Jason Holmes, 33, who has one child at the school, said: “I’m a delivery driver and I’m constantly on the road, so I know the dangers.

“It’s absolutely horrendous. Kids are rushing out of school, they can’t see past the cars parked all the way along the chevrons.

“Drivers on the road can’t see the children. It’s a complete lottery. You’ve no real idea if it’s safe to cross.

My wife has been out there remonstrating with parents and she gets abuse thrown at her

Mark Watt

“The people who live by the school are fuming because they can’t get in or out of their houses.

“It’s just a mess and I don’t know why something isn’t being done about it.”

Andrew Shankster, 36, refuses to let his 10-year-old son walk to Parkgate because of the traffic chaos.

He said: “You get cars parking on zig zags on both sides of the road, so no-one can see if it’s safe to cross.

“People just grab a spot wherever they can – regardless of what the rules are. It’s even worse in the mornings because you’ve got rush hour as well.

“We have lorries squeezing through and cars doing U-turns in the middle of the road.

“It’s only by sheer luck that no-one has been hurt. There have been plenty of close calls.”

A spokesperson for Coventry City Council said: “We take illegal and inconsiderate parking outside schools very seriously. 

“We have introduced 20mph speed limits in and around many schools and we are also seeking funding to introduce our first car free school streets.

“We have a mobile enforcement car out every day as well as teams of parking enforcement officers. And we are working with the police to inform and educate parents.

“We will ensure our teams take an extra look at the situation outside Parkgate school.”

The Sun has contacted Parkgate primary for comment.

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