We’re terrified of being killed by school-run drivers – fights break out & we’re forced to patrol the street ourselves
RESIDENTS of a small town say they live in fear of being killed by school-run drivers as fights break out in the street.
Locals of Bridgend, Wales, claim that "selfish" parents park up on pavements and even trade blows, forcing them to patrol the streets themselves.
Last week a fight outside Brynmelyn Primary School was caught on camera while frustrated homeowners used deck chairs to keep motorists away.
The latest flair-up left residents of the care home opposite the school fearing for their lives as cars blocked an ambulance from reaching the building.
Because the school refuses to allow parents to drive onto their property, mums and dads instead use a housing development on a no-through road opposite.
Residents claim that they park across driveways, on pavements and on the corners of roads, and that many have been using the car home parking spaces reserved for staff and emergency vehicles.
READ MORE MOTORS NEWS
Trudy, Davis, manager at the care home, Ty Ynysawdre, now spends at least an hour a day at school drop-off and collection times patrolling the car park and nearby area to stop parents clogging it up.
She told The Sun Online: "It soaks up so much of my time when I should be inside managing the home and looking after my staff and residents.
“The parking issue is becoming a full-time job, and it is taking me away from other important aspects of managing a care home with 45 residents, many of whom are elderly. Our oldest resident is 97.
"The council needs to buck its ideas up and allow parents to use the massive car park it already has at the school. I think the reason they don’t is they are worried about potential accidents and injuries happening on their grounds.
Most read in Motors
"But all that does is shift the problem onto us and the surrounding streets. You see parents every day parking across people’s driveways, on the corners of streets, and wherever they can."
For locals, the rogue parking is a nuisance, but their biggest worry is that the influx of heavy traffic twice a day is going to cause a serious accident.
Nikita Jones, 25, who has two children at the school said it is only a matter of time before a child is badly injured, or even killed, by a car parking in the street.
She added: "Every morning and afternoon we have hundreds of vehicles descending on this quiet little street and the area cannot cope with this level of traffic.
"You’ve got children as young as two walking around and huge cars parking up on the pavement.
"I’m really worried the child is going to get killed before long. I hope with all my heart it never happens, but there is a real risk."
And fellow parent Suzanne Meadows, 39, said that the inconsiderate parking "puts everybody at risk".
She fumed: "Unfortunately, I fear it will take a child getting killed before they do anything about this horrendous situation.
"It has been going on for years now and the council and the school are doing nothing about it.
"School children’s safety should be their absolute priority and they are falling down in their duty to create a safe environment for them."
Birdgend County Borough Council has been contacted for comment.
A Bridgend County Borough Council Spokesperson, said: “If any vehicle causes an obstruction by parking inconsiderately on a public highway, it should be reported to South Wales Police so officers can assess whether an obstruction has occurred.
“Safety is paramount and there are parking restrictions on the access road to the school to assist with road safety and to facilitate access to properties in the area.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“Civil parking enforcement officers, who are employed by BCBC, also patrol this area and enforce parking restrictions where appropriate.
“We would like to remind parents/carers that alternative options are available including active travel routes which offer safe access to and from the school.”
