A fierce debate has erupted after police asked parents in a Leeds ward not to park inconsiderately after several complaints.
West Yorkshire Police Leeds East team posted on Facebook on Wednesday, May 4, to remind people dropping children off at school in Temple Newsam ward not to park on zig-zagged lines - or they could face a fine. The post was accompanied by a powerful picture of schoolchildren laying across the yellow markings.
Hundreds of people across Leeds chimed in to share their opinions on the post - with some saying the placement of the school left them with no options, but others saying the inconsiderate parking really bothered them.
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The Leeds East policing team's post read: "Following recent complaints in the Temple Newsam ward regarding inconsiderate parking, we would like to remind people to park considerately when dropping off children at schools.
"If you park on zig-zag lines or at the school gates, you could be committing an offence where waiting is prohibited. This could also result in a £30 Fixed Penalty Notice."
So far, there have been more than 800 comments on the post, as well as more than 600 reactions and over 200 shares. The post was accompanied with a picture of children laying down over zig zag lines with the words 'would you park here now?' on the pavement.
Cindy Sanderson was very keen for harsher action on parent parking on the school run. She wrote: "I live near a school, and although I don’t mind the pick up and drop off outside my house I find it utterly annoying they park over our drive and very close to the junction!
"One day I came back from a visit I couldn’t get round the corner of the street into my home, due to the school having a massive coach parked right outside my house all across the drive, I had parents sat on my wall, 2 actually stood in my garden! I couldn’t get through my gate without shouting at the parents picking up their kids from a school trip to move, it was a nightmare!
"We are now trying to get permits so parents can’t park in our streets! And many residents lived around here before the school was built! The area has had the police and MP involved, and it only lasts a few weeks! Sorry but schools should take some responsibility for the parking issues too!"
Others were in agreement with Cindy's hard line on bad school parking. Peter Newman said: "Parents on school runs seem to have a competition on who can get nearest to the school gate, but when a child is injured its always some one else's fault."
Similarly, Lyne Murray wrote: "I live near a primary school and I swear to god if they could drive their cars into the classroom and drop their kids off they would!!"
Barry Mansell said: "I’m a school contractor and have worked at hundreds of schools. It’s everywhere, and when the police do a spot check (I’ve seen a few) many parents kick off at them. The barrier system previously mentioned seems to be the best option I’ve seen, but it still doesn’t stop the determined few, who then stop in the middle of the road."
Liam Lee More suggested upping the penalty for those breaking the rules to provide more of a disincentive. On the other hand, some parents defended themselves - saying it was often their only option to get their kids to school.
Tatko commented: "Let's build a primary school in between rows of houses with no car park and the road being tight as it is without having resident cars there already, sort the parking out and parents won't have to do this."
Harvey Schofield was also sympathetic, saying: "If they hadn't closed all the smaller schools around where people live, the kids would be able to walk to school. As I did and my kids.
"Unfortunately with centralised schools kids have to come from miles away and walking isn't really an option. Councils and planners are to blame completely. I do not, by the way condone blocking driveways or parking on zig zags outside schools."
And some commented to joke about the picture the police used with the post of children laying over the zig-zag lines.
Richard Robinson said: "I can't believe people run over kids on the jagged lines, maybe if the children were removed then incidents wouldn't happen. I blame the schools."
And similarly, Ian Oddie wrote: "I wouldn't park there any way, but I also wouldn't lie in the road either!! Or perhaps these are the new/future insulate Britain protesters!"
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