Parents told by school head to stop car chaos
TEACHERS are pleading with parents to be more sensible when parking outside their children's school before there is a serious accident.
Andrew Black, the headteacher at St Margaret's Primary School in Wolstanton, says he regularly writes letters to parents about the traffic chaos experienced in Knutton Road every morning and afternoon.
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COMPLAINTS: Parents parking outside the school. Below, headteacher Andrew Black.
He has seen people stopping in residents' driveways, on yellow lines, and even in the middle of the road as other drivers wait behind them.
The problems have worsened since the Wolstanton Link Road opened a year ago, with traffic queuing to enter Church Lane causing further congestion.
Mr Black is asking parents to show more consideration to residents, pedestrians and other road users by finding parking spaces further from the school.
He said: "I've been here three-and-a-half years and I've written to parents every half-term, trying to get their support.
"I know what it's like – I have children myself. But we just want them to be sensible and park further away, and walk in from there.
"I've seen some parents parking on the road and unloading their children towards the traffic. To me that beggars belief. I'm sympathetic towards the residents as well, as it's their driveways some people are parking on, and that's just unfair.
"I've asked the children to speak to their parents about it, because maybe that will have more impact on them than just a letter."
Kim Stewart, whose son and daughter attend St Margaret's, agreed that some parents were irresponsible.
Mrs Stewart, aged 47, of Stratford Avenue, Wolstanton, said: "There is a problem with some people parking on the yellow squiggly lines, or just stopping in the middle of the road to drop off their kids.
"Only the other day I was walking along with my little boy and we were nearly knocked over by someone reversing into the driveway to turn around.
"I think it is because of the new road. We get a lot more traffic now, and people are always in a rush."
Another parent said: "I always park in a proper space, and if I can't find a space I just park in a nearby street. I think the way some people park does make it more dangerous."
But some residents in Knutton Road believe parents are not the main source of problems.
John Finney, aged 59, said: "It's the people who are parking there all day, and those aren't parents; those are the teachers. It means children are having to cross the road between parked cars. We've spoken to the school about it."
7 Comments
by Paul, wolstanton
Wednesday, July 29 2009, 10:43AM
“I regularly see parents parking illegally outside these schools in wolstanton,the schools request they don't regularly,so if they insist on adopting a sod everyone else attitude, start handing out parking tickets hurting the pocket usually helps to persuade people to change their attitudes”
by Zoe, Stoke-On-Trent
Monday, February 02 2009, 6:48PM
“You should try and drive down Norton Lane during school drop off and pick up- Norton Primary School parents double park and cause traffice chaos!”
by stokie Bird, Stoke
Sunday, February 01 2009, 5:57PM
“This is a very common problem at every school.the school my 8year old goes to have changed the time of school finishing to solve the car parking situation and i must say i can see no difference.Its the same cars parked outside the school but earlier now.Most of the complaints are made by the car owners that can not park! So really why are they complaining? This problem i feel will never end.”
by Dave, Clayton
Sunday, February 01 2009, 5:49PM
“As with other local primary school the catchment area for St Margarets will be Wolstanton/May Bank so surely the parents can walk them to school the majority of the distance being less than one mile!!!!! I did this when I went to primary school as did many other children if not walking further. Don't be lazy!”
by Anon, Mow Cop
Sunday, February 01 2009, 4:47PM
“This story is a common one now, parents who only live a few hundred yards away from the primary school in Mow Cop drive their children there, get some exercise and walk them to school.”
by jilly, wolstanton
Sunday, February 01 2009, 3:25PM
“You'll never cure this old problem. Remember that headteachers have no authority outside the school gate. This problem is the responsibility of Newcastle under Lyme council Highways dept.”
by Daz, Newcastle
Sunday, February 01 2009, 10:19AM
“What's wrong with kids and parents walking like the did when I went to school. I wonder why we have such an obesity problem,because people are lazy these days!!!!!!!!”