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Neil	14-04-2005 11:09

School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

1 Attachment(s)

This subject is a pet hate of mine. Why do some parents think it is ok to risk the safety of my children by stopping on the yelloe zig zags outside school?

My son attends Hippings. Every morning cars stop on the zig zags like there are designed to be a drop off point. On some days a coach parks on them waiting to take children somewhere. People use the school entrance as a turning place, just because it is easy.

What does the school do about it?
Nothing!

Does the headteacher stand at the gates asking people not to stop there?
No!

Do the police issue fines for the offence?
No.

I attended the Area Council Meeting on April 12th. After the meeting I spoke to PC Tracey Finn, she is the Community Beat Manager for Oswaldtwistle. I asked her what is being done about the problem of cars stopping on the zig zags. I explained that I see it every day outside Hippings, St.Mary's and Fairfield Nursary. She explained that a scheme had been drawn up and approved to add a restricted parking yellow line opposite the zig zags outside St. Mary's. This was to be the start of a campaign to address the problem. She has been waiting 2 years for the council to paint the yellow line. The whole road has recently been resurfaced and repainted and the line did not get added.

I suggested that if there was a list of 50 names in The Observer of drivers who had been fined it would scare other drivers and may improve the situation. I was informed that when she stands outside the school no one stops on the yellow lines. I must have smiled so she explained that she cant issues fines if she is not in uniform.

She is going to look into the problem outside Hippings, I will just have to wait and see what happens.

I have just collect my other son from Fairfield Nursary and everybody was given the leaflet below regarding zig zags. It is good to know that some Headteachers are concerned about the issue.

garinda

14-04-2005 12:59

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

My goddaughter attends the same school, she lives about three miles away so l think travelling to school by car is acceptable. On the otherhand l know children that live within 1/2 a mile from the school who also get dropped off by car.

I know that perhaps peoples lives are busier nowadays and a lot of families have both parents working, but everyday until we were old enough to go the mile to school, my Mum walked with myself and my brother past the car and onwards towards school.

We were fitter than todays cosseted little dears, and also helped to preserve fossil fuels for more needy transport needs. [Please no jokes about driving to Entwistle, thank you. :)]

garinda

14-04-2005 13:11

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Afterthought.............

Perhaps the P.C. would lend you her uniform, for you to wear when you drop your son off.

The thought scares me, as l'm sure it would anybody else who saw you whilst dropping off the sprogs, and were thinking of parking illegally.

Neil	14-04-2005 13:18

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

I should have said that PC Finn was extremely helpfull when we were discussing the subject. I dont think she is friendly enough to lend me her uniform :) , I know it is you that wants it anyway :D.

I have no problem with taking children to school in cars. Just stopping on the yellow lines. There is no need to park illegally outside Hippings as there is plently of legal places to stop.

garinda

14-04-2005 13:43

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

There is no need to park illegally outside Hippings as there is plently of legal places to stop.

Yeah half way up Fielding Lane stopping me from getting in my Mum's drive!!!!!

ShortStuff

14-04-2005 17:49

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Parents on the school run are like another species. Just stay inside & lock your doors until they pass!

I think they park on the zig-zag lines cos they truly believe that they are only there to keep the way clear until they turn up! I used to have to drive past St Marys to get to work at around 8.30am and it was a complete nightmare. How I haven't driven into one of the car doors that are flung open without any regard of passing traffic, god only knows - (& it isn't the children that do the flinging!).

park381

14-04-2005 21:57

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShortStuff

I think they park on the zig-zag lines cos they truly believe that they are only there to keep the way clear until they turn up! I used to have to drive past St Marys to get to work at around 8.30am

St Mary's school and the traffic problems came up at the area council meeting, PC Tracy Finn had an imput, in so much as she / they are aware of the problem, and are waiting the yellow lines being put down the side of the road. Who knows how long that will take, may be another job for the 3" brush & yellow paint brigade. Neil,Simon, that's some more lines we need to paint :D

Neil	14-04-2005 22:05

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by park381

waiting the yellow lines being put down the side of the road

That was in 2003 would you believe. I was talking to her about it.

park381

15-04-2005 06:53

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

That was in 2003 would you believe. I was talking to her about it.

That's about right for HBC. There was a similar problem in Gt Harwood at a school entrance and the Beat Manager there indicated he would "book" the offenders if they did not stop parking on the zig zags. There was an article in the Observer about it. Why can't Tracy Finn do the same thing :confused:

Neil	15-04-2005 07:33

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by park381

the Beat Manager there indicated he would "book" the offenders if they did not stop parking on the zig zags............. Why can't Tracy Finn do the same thing :confused:

I asked her that and she told me that no one does it when she is there waiting for them.

WillowTheWhisp

15-04-2005 07:47

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Presumably that's because they notice her.

Neil	15-04-2005 07:48

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

I know it sounds stupid but she informed me she cant be in plain clothes. She has to be in uniform to issues fines. That is crazy in my book.

Neil	15-04-2005 08:25

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

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I do find my camera phone can be usefull at times.

Here is a picture of a Kirkmans coach waiting to take some childrem swimming outside St Mary's in Oswaldtwistle.

I contacted the school and asked if they were aware of the coach parked on the keep clear lines.

I was informed by the schools representative that it was only for 5 minutes.

Well done St. Mary's for condoning parking on your keep clear lines. I wonder if they let any other aspects of the childrens safety slip?

park381

15-04-2005 08:27

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

I know it sounds stupid but she informed me she cant be in plain clothes. She has to be in uniform to issues fines. That is crazy in my book.

Then why not include it in the newsletter "In Touch" local information and news from your Community Beat Manager. This is distributed around the area.
In fact in the latest issue (issue 3 - march 2005 Oswaldtwistle Newsletter) there is an article "What do you want your Community Beat Officers to do for you?"

asfc babe

16-04-2005 12:31

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

i agree with most things you say neil but what can the school do about it? my mum works at hippings and i know that all the teachers are extreamly busy teaching kinds and preparing lessons.

It is the responsibility of parents and the police. Perhaps if parents actually bothered to take time out and walk their kids to school there wouldn't be such a problem.

park381

16-04-2005 12:45

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by asfc babe

i agree with most things you say neil but what can the school do about it?

I don't notice the problem at Hippings, because it's not on the main road, but St Mary's is a nightmare, an accident waiting to happen. I agree that the police and parents are responsible, but I do think the schools should show some interest in the problem, may be a "newsletter" with some imput from the Community Beat Manager indicating that parents are breaking the law by parking on zig zags, and that they will be booked if found parking in such a manner. Rhydding is also as bad at school finishing times.

WillowTheWhisp

16-04-2005 13:51

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Here is a picture of a Kirkmans coach waiting to take some childrem swimming outside St Mary's in Oswaldtwistle.

I think this is a bit different to all and sundry parking on the zig zags at a time when the children are arriving at school. Looking at the area there it's difficult to choose a safer location for the bus to park because at the time it is there the only children coming out of the school will be those actually heading onto the bus. If the bus parked further away then the children would be more at risk of possible accidents, particularly if it parked so far away as to cause them to have to cross a road. It's a very awkward location. :cool:

park381

16-04-2005 14:20

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

You could be correct willow, but directly opposite the coach is a car parked half on the pavement, a case of double parking. Also there are railings protecting children from the road, so may be the coach could have parked a little further along. That area is no go at school starting/finishing times, as are a lot more, Fairfield nursery just along the road is another with the same problem, it has become a major road safety problem

WillowTheWhisp

16-04-2005 14:35

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

How far along do the railings go? That was one of my reasons for thinking that other than parking where he is (between sets of railings but within the keep clear/zig zag area) he may have had to park too far away from the school which could have led to children coming out and spilling into the road in that area where he is actually parked on the photo, between the railings.

As for that car, was it there first or did it park after the bus did?

It's a problem without and easy solution. sometimes you just have to settle for what seems to be the least of several evils.

slinky

16-04-2005 14:44

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

You watch though, the parents that park on these lines.......if it was one of there children getting knocked down, they would go mad, bit hypocritical isn't it.:mad:

My children go to st.peters school..............the street that the childrens school is on is very narrow. Yes kids have been knocked down time and time again but, will the idiot parents stop trying to get ''the nearest they possibly can'' to the school gates???????? No will they hell, because it is far too hard to park at the bottom and walk their children up to school which must be the whole of about 20 foot steps away. What they don't realise is by walking the rest of the way they may be saving some poor kid from being knocked down. There is one driver that drives a people carrier type car, he is dangerous to say the least, usually driving very fast with at least 10 kids in the car, the school took a photo of his vehicle and put it in the last newsletter warning ''All parents to drive carefully and consider the children''.
Did it stop the offender?????????? i'll let you decide.

park381

16-04-2005 14:45

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Almost sure the railing go along to the end of the "School Keep Clear" markings on the road. The parked car, anyone's guess. I agree it's a very difficult situation, the safety of children is a must, but I do think the police could be a little more pro-active in dealing with this problem.

mez	16-04-2005 14:45

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

some one ought to be outside springhill primary school when they are coming out, it is utter chaos , with cars, children, all trying to move it is a wonder that a child has not been injured before now, as for the coach that takes them to the baths, that parks in exchange st, & that road is busy enough anyway.

WillowTheWhisp

16-04-2005 14:49

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

That's another one with no real safe place for a school trip bus to park. You'd have expected it to have been incorporated into the car park area when the new school was built wouldn't you? The "powers that be" weren't for making the car park big enough even for the teachers cars! Considering most of them come from far afield where else were they expected to leave their cars?

park381

16-04-2005 15:00

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

1 Attachment(s)

Seems like there is a major problem with all the local schools, contact with the Community Beat Manager may help.

The attached doc is taken from the newsletter Intouch "local information and news from your community beat manager

Neil	16-04-2005 22:04

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

I think this is a bit different to all and sundry parking on the zig zags at a time when the children are arriving at school.

I agree, it is dispicable that a coach hired by the school is creating a hazard for the school's children.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Looking at the area there it's difficult to choose a safer location for the bus to park because at the time it is there the only children coming out of the school will be those actually heading onto the bus.

I spoke to the schools headteacher. The coach is not supposed to arrive until 9:10am when the traffic problem is over. On this occasion I saw the coach arrive at 9am.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

If the bus parked further away then the children would be more at risk of possible accidents, particularly if it parked so far away as to cause them to have to cross a road. It's a very awkward location. :cool:

At the end of the zip-zags is a bus stop. During the mad rush parents park in the bus stop. This is why the coach is supposed to arrive at 9:10am. As for the hazard of the children walking to the bus stop, there are metal railings along the footpath from the school to the bus stop.

The headteacher is very concerned about the parking hazard and regularly sends out letters to parents. He is intending to speak to the coach driver next Friday when he is taking the children swimming.

Neil	16-04-2005 22:08

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by park381

The parked car, anyone's guess.

No guess needed mate. The car was parked first. I had to wait behind it while I let a car pass the parked coach.

WillowTheWhisp

16-04-2005 23:22

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

At the end of the zip-zags is a bus stop.

In that case it is obviously the best place for the coach to park as the railings would direct the children towards the coach. This just wasn't evident in your photo.

park381

17-04-2005 07:09

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

No guess needed mate. The car was parked first. I had to wait behind it while I let a car pass the parked coach.

My reply was to a question put by willow, "which vehicle was there first" and from the photo it was anyone's guesss.

Neil	18-04-2005 05:42

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

It is a poor photo. I did not have a camera with me so I had to use my phone. Not bad for a phone :).

park381

18-04-2005 06:54

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Not bad for a phone camera, it's good enough to highlight the problem, am sure that the people living in the houses adjacent to the school must be a little fed up with the problem.

park381

29-04-2005 16:53

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

This weeks Observer page 25 headlines " School parking crackdown success" don't need to say anymore other than........................... I hope our Beat Manager reads the Observer, and does something about the school parking problems round Ossy

mez	29-04-2005 17:18

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

must say the coach now parks in the layby, nr: springhill school

park381

29-04-2005 18:22

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by mez

must say the coach now parks in the layby, nr: springhill school

That's a start. I should think that parking is a major problem round the "new" spring hill school.

WillowTheWhisp

29-04-2005 22:51

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

For the teachers there is an integrated car park which is more than they had before.

park381

30-04-2005 06:01

Re: School Keep Clear - Yellow Zig-Zags

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

For the teachers there is an integrated car park which is more than they had before.

That's true, but that is only one school. Look at Fairfield Nursery, the car park there was extended as part of the project to extend the school and there are still cars parked in the street all day. Rhyddings is another example where what was once a playground area is now a car park for the staff, but again cars are parked in the street all day. St Marys on Fairfiled is another with only a small car park for staff.

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