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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Corrie David & Ted Peskett

'From tranquillity to chaos': The residents unable to get in and out of their homes because of school drop-offs

Residents are outraged by the continued "chaos" on their street after a council decided to keep restrictions on a nearby school's drop-off zone in place.

Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) recently reversed its decision to close the drop-off zones at other schools Brynmenyn Primary School in Ynysawdre and Coleg Cymynedol Y Dderwen (CCYD).

However, restrictions on Pencoed Primary School's drop-off zone are still in place, leaving a number of residents on one nearby street - Cae'r Efail - furious as their cul de sac continues to fill up with parents' cars during the school run.

Read more: You can find more news from Pencoed here.

Kerry Wiggins, who lives on Cae'r Efail, said: "They park here from half past two, and on a sunny day they can be here until half past four. Its been like it since the school was built.

"People say 'It's only ten minutes' but it's not.

"I've been down to the school to complain because I've had my car knocked, it was by a food delivery lorry but it was because they couldn't get through because cars are just everywhere.

"The school said there's nothing they can do."

All the drop-off zones at Brynmenyn and Pencoed primary schools and CCYD were closed by BCBC in December due to safety reasons.

The drop-off zone at Pencoed Primary School remains closed (Corrie David)

At the time, the council said that an assessment by council officers revealed multiple incidents of vehicles making dangerous manoeuvres, travelling at speed, blocking or not using parking bays correctly, and ignoring instructions from officers on site.

But tensions between parents and residents in Ynysawdre saw residents in deck chairs form 'barricades' on a daily basis to stop school drop offs on the street.

Brynmenyn Primary saw its drop-off zone reopened to approved users only on Monday, February 28 and similarly, CCYD was reopened with additional control measures and restrictions in place.

However, the drop-off site at Pencoed Primary will continue to remain restricted at the start and end of the school day.

One resident on Cae'r Efail who wished to remain anonymous said: "My wife and I live in Cae'r Efail, Pencoed which is a quiet 26 property cul-de-sac with easy access to a rear entrance of the school.

"By stopping parents using the drop-off zone Bridgend Council have simply moved the problem elsewhere that is to our street and neighbouring roads on our estate. Every morning and afternoon our quiet estate is transformed from tranquillity to chaos.

The location of Pencoed Primary School's drop-off zone, which remains closed (Google Maps)

"I fully understand that they may have had to impose restrictions in the interests of child safety but they have simply moved the problem elsewhere (out of sight out of mind)."

A BCBC spokesperson said: “The council’s focus remains firmly fixed upon maintaining pupil safety following the dangerous misuse of the drop-off zones by some drivers.

“While the measures that are in place at Brynmenyn Primary School have allowed for a controlled reopening of the drop-off area for users determined by the school itself to be most in need, the majority of pupils who are arriving at Pencoed Primary School are doing so as pedestrians, and as such, there is a very clear need to limit the number of vehicles accessing that site.

“This is being closely monitored so that further changes can be made where appropriate. If any vehicle causes an obstruction by parking inconsiderately on a public highway in the meantime, it should be reported to South Wales Police.”

Access to the drop-off area at Pencoed Primary School is currently controlled by the school for certain categories of pupils, parents and carers.

These include those who are accessing the learning resource base and pupils with a physical disability.

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