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Archive => Archived Boards => Local Issues => Topic started by: Razzle on March 18, 2013, 12:45:57 PM
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I have to say I was horrified on Friday afternoon, to see the complete disregard for safety that some parents have when collecting their children from School. I witnessed several cars reversing (or trying to) up the driveway directly adjacent to the school gates on Elmfield Drive, and nearly knocking over the children that were coming out of the gates.
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My older children went there before it became much bigger and it was bad then. Many a time my kids nearly got run over by cars driving up kerbs. Something needs to be done about it.
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The school needs to send leaflets out urging parents to be responsible and Llow their kids to walk home. Then, bring the police in to ticket illegal parking / stopping.
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The school needs to send leaflets out urging parents to be responsible and Llow their kids to walk home. Then, bring the police in to ticket illegal parking / stopping.
Trafic wardens do that now not police. Police have no time now there short on numbers .
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Forget the school sending out letters and TW and police involvement. Should there not be an element of self control by local people who behave so badly. It's too easy to say "they" should do something when in this case Marple people should just be behaving batter.
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The police and PCSOs were there just a couple of weeks ago - then nobody parked on the pavement, which was great for walking but even more chaotic for cars. But next day they were all back doing the same.
Either Mrs Admin or I always take and pick up our two grandchildren and we always walk, but there's a lot that don't.
The only way to stop it would be double-yellows plus regular enforcement. Anyone who thinks that they are going to stop voluntarily is living in a dream world.
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I believe Ludworth have similar issues too. They put notes in the newsletter but nothing happens. All Saints' is not as bad (much smaller school with restrictions down one side) but there are still parents who zoom up the kerb just to get as close as possible to the entrance and that double park, stop buggies and disability scooters getting through and block drives. I know Rose Hill parents were able to use the Railway pub car park at one point, does anyone use it? Lots of AS parents park at The Ringers but not many at the Con club which they can do. People still want to be right outside even if it puts other kids in danger sadly. maybe a name and shame in the weekly newsletter (number plates?) would help? I don't think it helps that people often opt to go to a 'better' school rather than their catchment which increases traffic in the school run (not making a judgement there, just pointing out the effect on traffic).
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The police and PC SOs were there just a couple of weeks ago - then nobody parked on the pavement, which was great for walking but even more chaotic for cars. But next day they were all back doing the same.
Either Mrs Admin or I always take and pick up our two grandchildren and we always walk, but there's a lot that don't.
The only way to stop it would be plus regular enforcement. Anyone who thinks that they are going to stop voluntarily is living in a dream world.
People that suggest double yellow lines never seem to take into account is that all they are suggesting is displacement, the moving of the problem a few yards away. Almost as selfish as the current drivers behaviour.
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If yellow lines are installed then the people who live there cannot park outside their own houses if they have more than one car and a small drive which won't take more than one car on it. This would still have to be monitored by Traffic Wardens which costs money.
There is no simple solution to this problem which won't cost money to monitor it. How do you get rid of the selfish, ignorant drivers who only think of themselves when they are dropping their kids off?
I thought on the original design of the school that cars were to be allowed to access an area within the school grounds to enable the kids to be dropped off, this access was to be from Bowden Lane, I could be wrong on this.
I live near to the Catholic Church on Leigh Avenue and a similar problem occurs every Sunday morning, cars are parked outside people's houses all over that area and block the roads, the roads are not very wide with some bends and if an Ambulance or Fire Engine had to get through then there would be problems, again selfish drivers. I'm sure if somebody parked their car outside one of these peoples house they would be the first to complain.
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There is a now drive-in and drop off point within the school grounds so anyone still using Elm Grove is being extremely antisocial and dangerous.
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Just a thought, how about kids walk to school without the need for parents, learning a few life skills etc. I recall being picked up from school on my first day but never after that, it was considered very uncool to have parents pick you up back then.
Less of the wrapping in cotton wool.
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Just a thought, how about kids walk to school without the need for parents, learning a few life skills etc. I recall being picked up from school on my first day but never after that, it was considered very uncool to have parents pick you up back then.
Less of the wrapping in cotton wool.
Have to agree Duke our children were taken to school on the first day ever after that they went on their on that as 1990 and 1995 5 is guite old enough to get about on your own.
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Agreed. As long as there are lollipop people at the necessary road crossings, it's perfectly safe for primary school kids to walk to school, and as Duke says, going to and from school with your mates is a vital part of growing up and becoming socialised. (Something going wrong here - I'm agreeing with Duke AND wheels :o )
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Something going really wrong here. I'm agreeing with Duke,Wheels AND Dave.
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Something going really wrong here. I'm agreeing with Duke,Wheels AND Dave.
I don't believe it!!! All 3 of them saying something sensible at last.
Admin, please can you confirm that all 3 posts were not done by the same person?? Thank you.
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Something going really wrong here. I'm agreeing with Duke,Wheels AND Dave.
I think I can rely on your votes ;-)
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I agree for older kids but not at 5. There is much more traffic on the roads than years ago. I let all mine walk when they are in the last couple of years but many do not, I am in the minority. Many also then drive their kids to high school.
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I agree for older kids but not at 5. There is much more traffic on the roads than years ago. I let all mine walk when they are in the last couple of years but many do not, I am in the minority. Many also then drive their kids to high school.
"There is much more traffic on the roads than years ago" because many more people drive their children a few hundred yards to school rather than walk.
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Many also then drive their kids to high school.
...even when they live on a school bus route! I find that extraordinary!
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"There is much more traffic on the roads than years ago" because many more people drive their children a few hundred yards to school rather than walk.
In part but also more households have two cars and more mothers are on their way to work as well as people not always going to catchment schools
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One might ever ask why are people driving to work Marple has very good bus and rail links
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It needs to be remembered that since bringing the 3 schools together on the Rose Hill site, some children attending Rose Hill come from Hawk Green, years ago these children would have attended Doodfield which is no longer a primary school, or Peacefield which no longer exists or even All Saints which is at full capacity. Other children come from Romiley since the closure of Barrock Hill and others travel from Offerton. So the days of children walking 100 yards to go to the local primary are a far cry for some parents and they don't have a choice.
I do however agree that those who do drive their children to school should park responsibly and with respect for local residents, and make use of local parking facilities if available such as The Railway pub car park.
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Why are children travelling to Rose Hill School from Romiley and Offerton when there are perfectly good primary schools in those areas?
Note: a separate topic has been broken out covering places at Primary Schools in Marple here:
http://www.marple-uk.com/smf/index.php?topic=4964.0
Admin
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Interesting to see how long it is since this was discussed and how little things have changed.
Yesterday a child was knocked down by a vehicle on Stockport Road just a few yards from the corner of Elmfield Drive. An ambulance was in attendance and the child was being tended on the grass when we passed. I understand that, thankfully, he wasn't badly hurt.
On the way to school this morning my granddaughter was nearly hit by a car turning into the Dentist's car park on Elmfield Drive and immediately after that another vehicle mounted the pavement alongside my 3 grandchildren and drove alongside them for about 10-12 metres getting closer and closer as it pulled about 3 feet onto the pavement. It looked like they would have been hit if I hadn't shouted at them to stop. I spoke to the driver and received a blank look.
This road has a parking restriction on it during school arrival and departure times but everyone seems to think it doesn't mean them. This habit of mounting the kerb so that you don't block the road but do block or restrict the pavement is totally inconsiderate to pedestrians everywhere but particularly so on a road that is a main pedestrian access to a school.
My wife reported these incidents to the headmistress and I reported it to the police. I hope we see some action before another child is knocked down.
The solution to me is simple. Apply the maximum fine to anyone breaking the parking restriction everyday without exception until they all stop. I'm sure it would be transformed in a week.
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The solution to me is simple. Apply the maximum fine to anyone breaking the parking restriction everyday without exception until they all stop. I'm sure it would be transformed in a week.
Indeed, it would be very simple to do, and the fines collected would more than pay for any overtime for the traffic wardens/police officers involved. If every single vehicle that broke a traffic law was ticketed, I doubt it would even take a week - 3 days max.
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I believe the child, who was travelling on a scooter along the Stockport Road pavement, was hit by a car reversing out of a drive.
Who should be more careful, the child or the driver ?
As for the parking on Elmfield Drive. I have told a number of drivers that they should not be there during certain times, only to receive a load of abuse, from the lady (!) driver.
The police can do nothing about it, I have spoken to the PCSOs, and I have never seen a traffic warden around at the right time.
At some schools the post a member of staff at the entrance to stop cars entering restricted areas.
WE, as parents and grandparents, should put pressure on the Headmistress to sort it before a child is hurt, and I have seen a few near misses.
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The Bowden Lane entrance to Rose Hill Primary is plagued by bad drivers. They park on double yellow lines, on corners, on pavements, across residents driveways and even sometimes on the zig zags at the school entrance. When challenged I have heard a driver saying that the restrictions do not apply to parents, and another saying it's the schools fault for not providing a large car park.
The headmistress is not interested.
In response to complaints the council have occasionally sent a traffic warden. However the warden stands there in full view, in uniform, and nobody parks illegally. No doubt the warden then reports back that there are no parking problems. The next day they park badly again. Obviously a warden can't be there every day. Perhaps the answer is CCTV cameras and automatic fines.
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The Headmistress at Rose Hill has been out in the drop off zone on many a morning; ensuring that drivers are using it for drop off (which is it's purpose) & not just parking up.
The school newsletter makes numerous appeals for parents to park considerably.
Unfortunately, the problem is simply selfish and inconsiderate parents who only think of their own convenience and not the safety of other children or the neighbourhood. The Railway pub is close enough to the school to park there and cross over the road. There is no excuse for using Elmfield Drive. I can't imagine why anybody wants the headache of turning around in such a small road.
Sadly, it is a problem at all schools. There needs to be enforcement of fines on a regular basis as an effective deterrent.
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I believe the child, who was travelling on a scooter along the Stockport Road pavement, was hit by a car reversing out of a drive.
Who should be more careful, the child or the driver ?
On the pavement? The driver, pretty obviously, especially if they are reversing.
As for the parking on Elmfield Drive. I have told a number of drivers that they should not be there during certain times, only to receive a load of abuse, from the lady (!) driver.
Years ago I use to walk my daughter up to the Guide Hut. On one occasion I was leaving her and watching to make sure she went safely inside when a driver pulled up and asked me to move off that bit of pavement as she wished to park on it. I got a fair amount of abuse (but thankfully not run over) when I ignored her.
The police can do nothing about it.
Actually, they can - and they are, realistically, probably the only people who can.
WE, as parents and grandparents, should put pressure on the Headmistress to sort it
It should undoubtably be "sorted" - at schools and elsewhere - but I don't think it is the Headmistress's job. That is to run a school, not manage traffic. The only people with the appropriate enforcement powers are the police.
Posting a few photographs online identifying the offenders (or their cars), however, might help.
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Take some photographs of the offending motorists with number plates .
Send copies to the Police and to local Councillors and also put the photos on this website.
That's a course of action that is much better than complaining amongst ourselves on here.
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I think there are a few points here, the flippant response would be 'well some of you voted for increased public spending cuts, what do you expect the handful of police left to do about it? no one challenged the closure of the Dale and Peacefield, Doodfield etc forcing parents to drive from further afield to get this sprogs to school.' ultimately we are all responsible for this situation and need to hold our elected representatives to account.
However, I think the problem would be fairly easy to resolve.
Starting in September we need an organised group of parents and grandparents along with local residents. They need to patrol the effected areas before and after school challenging the drivers, being prepared to put up with abuse and reporting it if necessary. Notices could be left on windscreens if necessary.
After a few weeks of this ask for hands on support from local Councillors so they can see the problem first hand.
Then take it in shifts and ask the school to start to educate the parents.
In essence become an organised nuisance to the culprits.
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The council are aware of this issue, and have been for years. They are not interested, neither is the headmistress. When you approach the parents, some of them can be abusive to you.
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The council are aware of this issue, and have been for years. They are not interested, neither is the headmistress. When you approach the parents, some of them can be abusive to you.
A give up altogether?
.I think there are a few points here, the flippant response would be 'well some of you voted for increased public spending cuts, what do you expect the handful of police left to do about it? no one challenged the closure of the Dale and Peacefield, Doodfield etc forcing parents to drive from further afield to get this sprogs to school.' ultimately we are all responsible for this situation and need to hold our elected representatives to account.
However, I think the problem would be fairly easy to resolve.
Starting in September we need an organised group of parents and grandparents along with local residents. They need to patrol the effected areas before and after school challenging the drivers, being prepared to put up with abuse and reporting it if necessary. Notices could be left on windscreens if necessary.
After a few weeks of this ask for hands on support from local Councillors so they can see the problem first hand.
Then take it in shifts and ask the school to start to educate the parents.
In essence become an organised nuisance to the culprits.
And a vigilante group ?
I don't think either will solve the problem.
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Unfortunately the problem can only be solved by parents being considerate and putting child safety first. This is some thing that some parents seem unwilling to do. I used to live near the school and the parking was horrific, parents parking across your drive, in front of the gates. When the issue was discussed with the Headmistress- she showed very little interest as did the council. The signs on the bottom of Elmfield Drive were put there to pacify neighbours but were never policed.
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I would suggest that if one or two people complain to police, council and school (who should pass the complaints onto police and council too) nothing will happen but if there is a a steady flow of complaints from lots of residents and people who use Elmfield Drive to access the school on foot then they will be forced to act. So ring 101 and report it to the police, email your local councillors and complain to the school.
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Whatever happened when we all walked to school? We live a mile from Rosehill and our children walked both ways most days - and didn't complain! Also, none of them were 'chubby' to put it politely.
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Whatever happened when we all walked to school? We live a mile from Rosehill and our children walked both ways most days - and didn't complain! Also, none of them were 'chubby' to put it politely.
People mostly used to go to their local schools. Now, it seems almost normal for some parents to 'shop around' for the 'best' school. Eg many parents drive a long way to Ludworth as it is 'outstanding' rather than use their more local school. This is harder now as there are less places avaliable and some admissions criteria have changed. I personally prefer local schools and college and we use catchment even though they used to be very low rated.
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On the way to school this morning my granddaughter was nearly hit by a car turning into the Dentist's car park on Elmfield Drive and immediately after that another vehicle mounted the pavement alongside my 3 grandchildren and drove alongside them for about 10-12 metres getting closer and closer as it pulled about 3 feet onto the pavement. It looked like they would have been hit if I hadn't shouted at them to stop. I spoke to the driver and received a blank look.
This road has a parking restriction on it during school arrival and departure times but everyone seems to think it doesn't mean them. This habit of mounting the kerb so that you don't block the road but do block or restrict the pavement is totally inconsiderate to pedestrians everywhere but particularly so on a road that is a main pedestrian access to a school
This is the same problem exactly that I had when my children were at Rose Hill. Some parents didn't seem to give a damn about other people's kids lives. This problem also ocurred very often at the Guide Hut when big cars would mount the kerb as I walked past with my children. It is so selfish.
At All Saints' it isn't quite as bad but there are drivers on the yellow lines and zigzags every day and drivers forcing people with prams into the road. Also one of the mums is very often driving whilst holding her mobile. Same one mounts kerbs.
Headteachers often mention this in the newsletters (Ludworth, All Saints' and Rose Hill) but not sure what they can do.
I think sometimes people feel too safe in cars and are far removed from thinking they could ever be involved in an accident and how horrific that may be. Either that or they are just very selfish people who think they should drive their precious child right to the school door whilst putting others at risk!
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Whatever happened when we all walked to school? We live a mile from Rosehill and our children walked both ways most days - and didn't complain! Also, none of them were 'chubby' to put it politely.
Oh we did complain a bit, maybe not within earshot though! I quite liked the walk to school mainly though, especially saying hello to Sam the dog, and walking through the field!
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My eldest went to Rose Hill pre-school a few years ago, and both my boys will be at All Saints from September. I remember the parent parking being pretty shocking around Rose Hill a few years ago. These days, there are always cars parked on the single yellow lines on Brickbridge Road during the restricted times (i.e. during the school-run), and on the hill between All Saints church and the school.
The inconsiderate/dangerous parkers generally seem to be the arrogant/ignorant/self-righteous type (delete as appropriate) who don't respond to having the issue politely pointed out to them other than with a blank look or swearing. I presume due to having an IQ beginnig with a decimal point.
I would happily contribute to the school fitting some CCTV cameras. Or even just some fake ones, with signs stating the road is being monitored and vehicle details are being passed to the police for dangerous/illegal parking instances.
Of course, addressing the utter laziness of many parents is a different matter. My wife walks my kids to school and often sees close neighbours driving the same route - by the time they've faffed about parking they're no earlier than if they'd walked.
Utter madness :)
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On 4th December there is a bill going before Parliament that will strengthen the laws around parking on pavements. Living Streets has a campaign to help you write to your local MP, in our case @William Wragg , to encourage him to vote for the new bill that will make it illegal to park on the pavement unless the street has been designated as acceptable for pavement parking.
This could be a big help to enforcing a stop to the chaos at Rose Hill School in the mornings and afternoons and at other places around Marple where this is a serious problem.
Follow the link to write to William:
http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1719&ea.campaign.id=44181&ea.tracking.id=e-pic&ea.url.id=487878
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On 4th December there is a bill going before Parliament that will strengthen the laws around parking on pavements. Living Streets has a campaign to help you write to your local MP, in our case @William Wragg , to encourage him to vote for the new bill that will make it illegal to park on the pavement unless the street has been designated as acceptable for pavement parking.
This could be a big help to enforcing a stop to the chaos at Rose Hill School in the mornings and afternoons and at other places around Marple where this is a serious problem.
Follow the link to write to William:
http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1719&ea.campaign.id=44181&ea.tracking.id=e-pic&ea.url.id=487878
It would make no difference at all. It is already illegal to park on double yellow lines, but the good people of Marple seem to think it doesn't apply to them. Just look at the Bowdon Lane entrance to Rose Hill school at in/out time; the top of Bowdon Lane where it meets Stockport Road; Hollins Lane; Church Lane for examples.
Its illegal to park on the zig zags at a pelican crossing. Its rare during the day that someone isn't parked on the zig zags outside the Post Office.
What we desperately need in Marple is a Traffic Warden (or whatever they're called these days).
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What we desperately need in Marple is a Traffic Warden (or whatever they're called these days).
I'd agree with that Harry. You'd think it would pay for itself and some!
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I'd agree with that Harry. You'd think it would pay for itself and some!
I saw one in Marple last week, on Church Lane.
Inspecting a car parked outside Coral.
I gave him a wedgie!
(Nb: one of those statements is untrue)
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It would make no difference at all. It is already illegal to park on double yellow lines, but the good people of Marple seem to think it doesn't apply to them. Just look at the Bowdon Lane entrance to Rose Hill school at in/out time; the top of Bowdon Lane where it meets Stockport Road; Hollins Lane; Church Lane for examples.
Its illegal to park on the zig zags at a pelican crossing. Its rare during the day that someone isn't parked on the zig zags outside the Post Office.
What we desperately need in Marple is a Traffic Warden (or whatever they're called these days).
There is a trafic warden around she was booking cars on the Hollins on tuesday bus stops .problem is they cant be there all the time they cover other areas .
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Saw a vehicle being ticketed on Brickbridge Rd the other week.
Made. My. Day :)
In an ideal world I'd have had the time to wait for the owner to return and done some pointing and laughing.
(actually, in an ideal world it would have been towed away and crushed to the size of a satsuma).
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Pity it wasn't the ridiculously large horse box that is parked there on a regular basis. Totally inappropriate for that small road and just laziness on the owners part when they have a large yard to park in.
A good sign if the traffic wardens have reappeared - if only for a little while.
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Pity it wasn't the ridiculously large horse box that is parked there on a regular basis. Totally inappropriate for that small road and just laziness on the owners part when they have a large yard to park in.
A good sign if the traffic wardens have reappeared - if only for a little while.
Go and see your councillor at the library on a sat morning . they can do wonders ive been told .
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Pity it wasn't the ridiculously large horse box that is parked there on a regular basis. Totally inappropriate for that small road and just laziness on the owners part when they have a large yard to park in.
Ah yes, so I'm not the only person who finds that a nuisance.
Cycling along there between 3-4pm is the best agility and alertness test you can get!