Brighton parents' parking shame (From The Argus)
Get involved: Send your news, views, pictures and video by texting SUPIC to 80360 or email us.
Brighton parents' parking shame
12:30pm Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter
Police have had to be called to a Brighton primary school because of parents’ bad parking.
Police Community Support Officers have been patrolling outside Queen’s Park Primary in Park Street writing down the numbers of dangerously parked vehicles.
Tom Dussek, chairman of school governors, said: “What the [officers] has encountered is pretty shameful.
“The issue of parking continues to be a challenging one, because illegally parked cars are a danger to all of our children as they come in and out of school.
“We now have officers taking the number plates of cars that are illegally and therefore dangerously parked and these then get passed to the police who will follow up and prosecute offenders. Traffic wardens are also issuing tickets to illegally parked cars.
“What’s really disheartening to hear is how abusive some parents have been towards the officers.
“When Queen’s Park School children consistently get complimented on their excellent behaviour, to hear that some of our parents are ‘among the most abusive’ that the officers have ever encountered is pretty shameful.
“These people are there to protect children from serious injury or death as a result of dangerous parking. This is not a trivial matter.
“There are always loads of parking spaces near the school, especially on South Avenue and Freshfield Road. There really is no excuse to park dangerously. Please remember what this is about – the safety of children.”
Natalie Ford’s seven-year-old daughter Lorelei Leachman attends the school.
The 33-year-old, of Kemp Town, said: “I have noticed parents parking badly and it can be dangerous. It is an accident waiting to happen.”
Shelly Leavold, 35, whose six-year-old daughter Lacey is also a pupil at the school added: “We walk but there are often cars parked on double yellow lines.”
Another mother, who asked not to be named, told of other parents shouting at police.
A Sussex Police statement said: “Parking outside schools can often cause a safety issue and we would urge parents to drive responsibly for the children's sake as well as other pedestrians.”
Comments(27)
Reporter1
says...
1:17pm Wed 23 May 12
Reporter1
says...
1:17pm Wed 23 May 12
Made In Sussex
says...
1:22pm Wed 23 May 12
Made In Sussex
says...
1:24pm Wed 23 May 12
Barry Trotter
says...
1:33pm Wed 23 May 12
Pitviper
says...
1:41pm Wed 23 May 12
atlantis88
says...
2:18pm Wed 23 May 12
pwlr1966
says...
2:31pm Wed 23 May 12
elephantsandowls
says...
2:37pm Wed 23 May 12
how sad. This seems to be the chaveton reaction from all extractions of society to police doing their job these days.
The area is overrun by dangerous driving and parking. Police taking action should be seen as a good thing.
Just wait until all of trafpol is private and handled by G4S: fines galore every day! ( Policing for Profit, the profit must come from somewhere, no?)
leach1527
says...
2:44pm Wed 23 May 12
A bit of zero tolerance is needed - the moment they are abusive to a police officer they should be hauled down to the station and charged. That will soon stop them.
Roundbill
says...
2:47pm Wed 23 May 12
mfc1960
says...
3:42pm Wed 23 May 12
albionite
says...
4:11pm Wed 23 May 12
The Real Phil
says...
4:18pm Wed 23 May 12
The best answer is one warning, then confiscate and crush the car.
Chipstick41
says...
4:31pm Wed 23 May 12
NickBrt
says...
4:43pm Wed 23 May 12
Brightonian in Germany
says...
5:55pm Wed 23 May 12
pwlr1966 wrote:I agree entirely & make them take their test again after a cooling off period of five years!!!
Take their licence away
Also make them do some work in the childrens accident units in local Hospitals during that time. With NO exceptions at all.
PETE OF QUEENS PARK
says...
7:59pm Wed 23 May 12
La-Verne
says...
10:50pm Wed 23 May 12
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
11:39pm Wed 23 May 12
They just don't want to tackle serious issues but like spending money in schemes people don't want.
Money and time wasters.
answer for everthing
says...
12:09am Thu 24 May 12
The deputy head has been calling the traffic wardens and the local police to get them to do something as they can now issue tickets but neither have bothered to even respond.
I can't understand how the council have the opportunity to make unlimited money out of these morons illegally parking but choose not to.
Council need to get a some brains and some parents need to grow some legs and start walking.
fredflintstone1
says...
3:54am Thu 24 May 12
Chipstick41 wrote:Just chill ... it's clearly not something to worry about. Everyone has to be flexible. Have you not noticed how the school regularly utilises its own strict "no parking" zigzag area outside the gates as its own private parking space for both B&H and Lemon buses when the little darlings are heading off on school trips at this time of day? You couldn't expect them to walk up to the Ditchling Road to get on a bus and ease the congestion, could you?? No, they MUST be picked up right outside.
I'm a parent of two kids at Balfour. If you could see just how bad and inconsiderate some of the parents are dropping off and collecting, you'd want to 'key' the bloody cars and then start on them. Couldn't give a toss if you're running late...get organised, and do something about it. Try getting out of bed a little earlier, and spend a little less time gas-bagging with your work colleagues. Bunch of numpties!!!
Note to Balfour Governors, the head & other staff - not to mention Roger French et al: you're deliberately breaking the law, setting a very bad example in the process, and endangering children's safety. So why do you do it? Please enlighten us......
JuliaM
says...
7:06am Thu 24 May 12
The Real Phil wrote:...with the parents inside!
This has been a problem at most schools for many years. These parents are the type of vile people who don't care how many childrens' lives are put at risk so long as they don't have to walk a few more yards. The best answer is one warning, then confiscate and crush the car.
peterthomas
says...
8:36am Thu 24 May 12
La-Verne wrote:Very true re the inconsiderate parking outside BC - especially the prep school - and why is it nearly always huge 4x4's?? Hardly town cars but guess you have to keep the image up!!? By the way, no "h" in Gucci!
I live directly opposite Brighton College and the amount of cars each day is ridiculous, one mother even blocked my gate and made me wait to gain entry to my own house while she dropped off her little "precious".....
. Obviously didn't want baby to walk, that or she didn't wanna ruin The Gucchi's..
HJarrs
says...
9:34am Thu 24 May 12
All schools should be good and those feeling the need to not go to a local school should be a small minority. The streets should be returned to becoming safe for children.
Compass
says...
12:04pm Thu 24 May 12
jagiwatch says...
12:46pm Wed 23 May 12
From experience I note that the offenders see the highly visible wardens / police and avoid the yellow / zigzag lines for that day, they need to be present every day at every school, unfortunately this is not possible because of resources, maybe the school staff should get involved as they could mingle with parents whilst taking note of Reg numbers!