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Number's up for school run parking pests

Residents of St Francis Road in Keynsham are being urged to call a special number when parents taking their children to and from school park across their drives.

People have been calling for action on the parking chaos outside Broadlands School for the past six months.

They say parents regularly park across their driveways preventing them from getting in and out of their own homes.

It has led to angry confrontations between home owners and motorists.

Residents raised the issue with North East Somerset MP Dan Norris and he was given an assurance that enforcement action would be taken against offenders from the start of the school term in September.

But one angry resident, who did not wish to be named, told a Police and Community Together meeting that nothing had been done. He said: "Things haven't changed. We had an incident a fortnight ago where a driver used foul language when they were asked to move.

"We were told enforcement would start from the new school term and it hasn't happened. An enforcement officer should be there between 2.30pm and 3.15pm. Driveways are obstructed on a daily basis."

Bath and North East Somerset Council parking services officer Dorothy Miley told the meeting that enforcement officers could issue on-the-spot fines to drivers who obstruct driveways but they had to receive a complaint at the time it happened.

Residents said this would be ineffective if enforcement officers were not in the street at the time as it would take them 30 minutes or more to get to St Francis Road from another part of the district.

In November, residents had called for double yellow lines in a bid to stop parking chaos.

The number to call to report motorists obstructing drives is 01225 394231 or email parking_enforcement@bathnes.gov.uk.

Comments...

By Vic_Meldrew at 23:29 on 01/02/10

This story only goes to show that BANES are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. At the meeting they promise the earth and the residents end up with a ping pong ball. Why can't their enforcement officers do what the residents have clearly stated they require. That is to have the enforcement officers there and then when the offences are being committed at the end of the school day. The council HAVE had the complaints, so get on and do something about it. Calling numbers and emailling the council does not cut the mustard, the residents want immediate action, not to see enforcement officers arriving an hour after the offences have been committed to find the abusive offenders have left the scene and got away scott free yet again. Dorothy Miley, we know what your enforcement officers can do. Its easy to put tickets on unattended vehicles in Ashton Way car park, lets see if they have the bottle to confront real offenders face to face and enforce the law. What about the army of PCSOs that residents of Keynsham now have to pay for because the two year government grant to pay their salaries has expired. Oh I forgot they have no powers of enforcement and so also fall into the 'chocolate teapot 'catagory!!!!