Clampdown on parents flouting road rules (From The Argus)
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Clampdown on Brighton and Hove parents flouting parking rules
1:10pm Tuesday 13th November 2012 in News Exclusive By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter
Brighton and Hove civil enforcement officers will photograph drivers parking on zigzags and yellow lines outside schools
Parking wardens armed with cameras will patrol the school gate to snap parents flouting road rules.
Up to 40 wardens will this month begin monitoring secondary and primary schools in Brighton and Hove.
If parents are caught on camera breaching parking restrictions they will be automatically sent a £75 fine in the post.
They will not receive notice of the fine before it drops through the letterbox.
Wardens had previously been required to slap the penalty notice on the windscreen.
The move, which has cross-party support, follows complaints from angry parents who fear a child could get seriously hurt if drivers continue to park on zigzag and yellow lines while collecting their children from school.
A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said parents were “irate” at bad parking, adding that there had been a number of “near misses”.
Keep clear markings
Councillor Ian Davey, chairman of the Transport Committee, said: “This is about the safety of the city’s 30,000 schoolchildren.
“It’s illegal and dangerous to park or stop on school ‘Keep Clears’ and from this term parking wardens across the city will issue instant fines by taking photos and logging registration numbers of the minority of motorist who put the lives of our children at risk by stopping illegally next to schools.”
“Keep Clears” are zones outside schools where parents cannot stop to drop off their children.
Coun Davey added: “If you need to drive to school, we request that you park safely, legally and considerately.
“As well as not stopping, dropping off or parking on school ‘Keep Clears’, this also means not double parking, not parking on corners or junctions near the school entrance and not blocking driveways.”
About 60 schools out of 100 in Brighton and Hove have ‘Keep Clear’ zigzags, which will be the focus of the new ticketing crackdown.
Patcham High School in Ladies Mile Road, Brighton, is one school where parking wardens will patrol.
Headteacher Paula Sargent told parents: “There will be visits from CEOs [parking wardens] to our school over the coming weeks to enforce the school ‘Keep Clears’.
“Remember the ‘Keep Clears’ are there for safety – to ensure clear sight lines for both motorists and children, as well as for other road users, outside schools. They provide a clear area in which children and adults can cross more safely.
“It is illegal to park or stop on school ‘Keep Clears’.”
Coombe Road Primary in Coombe Road, Brighton, issued a warning to parents to park safely after a crash recently when a 20-year-old woman was knocked off a bike.
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Comments(53)
NickBrt
says...
1:17pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Tis I
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1:36pm Tue 13 Nov 12
s&k
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1:45pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Fight_Back
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1:48pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Could I please request some CEOs outside Hangleton Infants in Northease Drive please - the parents park dangerously EVERY day.
Windlesham School in Dyke Road would also be a good place to patrol.
Barry Trotter
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1:51pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Problem is things have been allowed to silde making illegal and dangerous parking to become acceptable.
Crystal Ball
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2:00pm Tue 13 Nov 12
it'smyturn
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2:18pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Sussex jim
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2:41pm Tue 13 Nov 12
blacktopsoldier
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3:17pm Tue 13 Nov 12
oh I forgot it was de-criminalised so that's ok then
brightonboy84
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3:32pm Tue 13 Nov 12
brightonboy84
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3:38pm Tue 13 Nov 12
it'smyturn wrote:Well said! I went to Patcham high and I don't remember it been anywhere near there.
The COEs will be long time trying to find Patcham High in Ladysmith Road, well done again Anna Roberts
Algeria Touchshriek
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3:51pm Tue 13 Nov 12
cvs
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4:22pm Tue 13 Nov 12
graham w
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4:28pm Tue 13 Nov 12
graham w
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4:28pm Tue 13 Nov 12
graham w
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4:28pm Tue 13 Nov 12
graham w
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4:28pm Tue 13 Nov 12
angrymonkey
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4:50pm Tue 13 Nov 12
PETE OF QUEENS PARK
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4:55pm Tue 13 Nov 12
hammerfan
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4:59pm Tue 13 Nov 12
derekhunt
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5:05pm Tue 13 Nov 12
On_the_Level
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5:08pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Algeria Touchshriek
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5:34pm Tue 13 Nov 12
On_the_Level wrote:Since when??
The police can also enforce these regulations as parking outside schools is an endorsable offence, which will incur penalty points on the driving licence....
White zigs are enforceable but yellow ones??
I may be wrong but they never used to be.
george smith
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5:35pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Crystal Ball wrote:Probably because of the government handouts they are entitled to, because they have kids, Mind those mad mothers with Bodica type chariot pushchair that push you off the pavements are as bad
This attitude to parking wherever people like is down to a completely misguided sense of entitlement.
fredflintstone1
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5:59pm Tue 13 Nov 12
As a parent, I've argued against this, but been ignored. If you want the photos showing the registration numbers of some of these vehicles, Cllr Davey, just let me know where to email them.
These double yellow lines are really necessary to mark out Balfour's own personal public parking areas.You obviously can't expect the children or staff to walk anywhere.
Clearly, the Head Teacher, the governing body etc. are quite happy for these coaches/buses to park illegally when it suits the school, as are parents, irrespective of the safety of the pupils.
The schools have expanded dramatically, but I'm told there's been a deliberate cut-back in parking spaces on site, so the teachers add to the chaos of dropping off / collecting children by car as they park on the road rather than using a car park.
Why? Because the Greens (bless 'em!) want to encourage cycle use - something dear to Cllr Davey's heart, as an instructor of cyclists, but not really feasible for those of us with kids who are leading busy lives. In reality, all this policy is doing is placing children at greater risk. Staff driving to school should have allotted off-road parking places.
sasquatch2202
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6:46pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Hove Actually
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6:54pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Whitehawk.......No
Molscoombe.....No
Falmer.............N
o
Lets stick to the popular schools with parents with 4 x 4s who can pay.
Mind you I do feel sorry for the parent who is running between schools dropping kids off, in my day everyone could walk to their local school and not need to travel across the busy Town just because some lottery has put you elsewhere
davyboy
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6:57pm Tue 13 Nov 12
gusset snatcher
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7:04pm Tue 13 Nov 12
it'smyturn
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7:15pm Tue 13 Nov 12
it'smyturn wrote:Now been updated to Ladysmile Road, just brilliant!!!
The COEs will be long time trying to find Patcham High in Ladysmith Road, well done again Anna Roberts
guitarmanzz
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8:05pm Tue 13 Nov 12
l 2010
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8:14pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Take it Personally
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9:29pm Tue 13 Nov 12
I hope they nail the 4X4 idiots all along Eastern Road, they're arrogant and rude and I can't tell you how many times I've seen these ugly 4X4's with just one kid in it.
Oh dear, let the darling angels walk, then maybe we won't have so many FAT kids (and their fat parents)
Chelseablue
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10:22pm Tue 13 Nov 12
Vehicles roar up and down Davey Drive at School times, some of them carrying their own children to schools further up the road. These drivers show no consideration for parents and pupils who might be attempting to cross. There have been a number of near misses over the years including one a few weeks ago
I have a message for these drivers-try slowing down when you pass our school please
ghost bus driver
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10:47pm Tue 13 Nov 12
sasquatch2202 wrote:Lets hope they go to and from there via the old village. they'd make a fortune down there. It's really awkward to turn into Ladies Mile Road with a 5A while the cashpoint cripples continue to park in the bus stop outside co-op. They should either enforce it properly or build it out.
Have you noticed its always the fat gits with their fat kids in the biggest fattest motors? Cant wait to see the parking wardens at patcham. They will make an absolute fortune!
clubrob6
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11:08pm Tue 13 Nov 12
brightonboy84
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2:52am Wed 14 Nov 12
Maxwell's Ghost
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6:54am Wed 14 Nov 12
Supermarkets have latched onto this mindset as a marketing tool and created mother and toddler bays which are always right outside the store.
Most of these kids and mums should park at the furthest end of the car park and walk as 60 per cent of UK children are now obese.
chilliman
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7:28am Wed 14 Nov 12
ghost bus driver wrote:It doesn't help that the 56 is parked there for the driver to have his break. I'm sure there must be some other less busy place that could be done along the service's convoluted route.
sasquatch2202 wrote:Lets hope they go to and from there via the old village. they'd make a fortune down there. It's really awkward to turn into Ladies Mile Road with a 5A while the cashpoint cripples continue to park in the bus stop outside co-op. They should either enforce it properly or build it out.
Have you noticed its always the fat gits with their fat kids in the biggest fattest motors? Cant wait to see the parking wardens at patcham. They will make an absolute fortune!
The delivery lorries add to the chaos, let alone the car drivers who just abandon their vehicle wherever they want - I've seen them park on the forecourt of the Patcham Garage in the evening and weekends. Apparently a warden comes round sometime on a Thursday.
Highview Avenue South school is another candidate for the wardens.
Euly
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8:18am Wed 14 Nov 12
salty_pete
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8:25am Wed 14 Nov 12
Nosfaratu
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9:35am Wed 14 Nov 12
Obviously late for her coffee morning.
Used my horn , but to no effect, will try a croissant next time.
whereisthe...?
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10:01am Wed 14 Nov 12
The Real Phil
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10:16am Wed 14 Nov 12
One other thing that has always played on my mind is the number of driving schools who bring their pupils around the school areas during pick up time. All driving perfectly legally, but obviously without much experience.
Number Six
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10:36am Wed 14 Nov 12
Hove Actually wrote:I went to school in Hanover Terrace from 1961 to 1966. Up until 1965 I lived in the Sackville Road, Hove area, before moving to Hangleton. I used to cycle or catch the bus. Boys who's parents used to drive them to scholl were treated like the wimps that they were
Now lets see where the parking Tax collectors chip up every day?
Whitehawk.......No
Molscoombe.....No
Falmer.............N
o
Lets stick to the popular schools with parents with 4 x 4s who can pay.
Mind you I do feel sorry for the parent who is running between schools dropping kids off, in my day everyone could walk to their local school and not need to travel across the busy Town just because some lottery has put you elsewhere
Nosfaratu
says...
11:17am Wed 14 Nov 12
salty_pete wrote:So there you have it, Wardens, get to the schools at dropping off or picking up time and make a bundle for the Puce Party.
Ah, but I bet they all have their hazard warning lights flashing. All these drivers believe that they can park as, and where, they please with the get out of jail hazard warning lights flashing. It's probably the most overused item on their cars.
Then I can double-park on the Sea-front.
ripmaxman
says...
1:44pm Wed 14 Nov 12
Number Six wrote:I agree if they are causing a problem but what about selfish cyclist that ride on pavements, jump traffic lights, ride the wrong way up no entry streets etc, etc.
Not before time. It's about time these morons who think "No Parking" doesn't apply to them got nicked. Extra fines if you can get them driving while they are talking into their pointless mobiles as well
What do you suggest we do about them?
ripmaxman
says...
1:49pm Wed 14 Nov 12
That’s it Greens go for the easy target “Motorists”!!!
I’ve noticed that they never do anything about the many cyclists that use the pavements and not the expensive cycle lanes, jump traffic lights, ride at night without lights, ride the wrong way up no entry streets etc, etc. Even in George Street in Hove where clear signs say “No cycling during pedestrian times” do they take any notice NO!
It the Greens are going to continually stuff motorists I would pack your bags now and leave gracefully before the next election.
By the way before anyone starts I don’t have a car.
altan
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3:55pm Wed 14 Nov 12
It is illegal !
Just because there is a problem, does not mean the council should not follow correct procedure and not follow the law.
IT IS ILLEGAL !
PorkBoat
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3:59pm Wed 14 Nov 12
ripmaxman wrote:Turn the hoses on them!
Number Six wrote:I agree if they are causing a problem but what about selfish cyclist that ride on pavements, jump traffic lights, ride the wrong way up no entry streets etc, etc.
Not before time. It's about time these morons who think "No Parking" doesn't apply to them got nicked. Extra fines if you can get them driving while they are talking into their pointless mobiles as well
What do you suggest we do about them?
PorkBoat
says...
5:26pm Wed 14 Nov 12
salty_pete wrote:Hazard lights, also known as "Taxi Driver's Indicators".
Ah, but I bet they all have their hazard warning lights flashing. All these drivers believe that they can park as, and where, they please with the get out of jail hazard warning lights flashing. It's probably the most overused item on their cars.
Ihopenoonehasthisusername
says...
7:27pm Wed 14 Nov 12
The Real Phil wrote:That's why they have a highly experienced and trained person with them. In my opinion a learner car is one of the safest cars on the road.
So good to see that many people are in favour of this action. Illegal parking around schools is not new, it has been a problem for at least the last two decades. And let's not be too nice about the people who can't be bothered to park sensibly. These are the kind of people who do not care if a child dies at the school gates so long as they do not have to walk from their cars which might have to be fifty yards or so away.
One other thing that has always played on my mind is the number of driving schools who bring their pupils around the school areas during pick up time. All driving perfectly legally, but obviously without much experience.
Number Six says...
1:16pm Tue 13 Nov 12