A school pick-up feud has been sparked on a quiet cul-de-sac

The chair necessities! Families block selfish school run parents from using their cul-de-sac as a car park by barricading the entrance with seats

  • One homeowner is considering moving in order to get away from the issue

A school pick-up feud has been sparked on a quiet cul-de-sac – after neighbours made a road barricade out of deckchairs.

Fed-up neighbours are battling against parents ‘parking inconsiderately’ and blocking driveways during the school-run at Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend, South Wales. 

The new term has reignited the long-running feud and police have been called in to patrol Lon Derw, which is just yards from the school where 200 pupils attend.

Mal Harris, who lives on the street, said neighbours had been dealing with the issue since he moved to the 19-house estate in 2018 and it hasn’t improved at all.

In January last year, battling mothers on the estate made a road barricade out of deckchairs to stop the traffic chaos.

A school pick-up feud has been sparked on a quiet cul-de-sac – after neighbours made a road barricade out of deckchairs

In January last year, battling mothers on the estate made a road barricade out of deckchairs to stop the traffic chaos

Mal Harris, who lives on the street next to the school, said neighbours had been dealing with the issue since he moved to the 19-house estate in 2018 and it hasn’t improved at all

The new term has reignited the long-running feud and police have been called in to patrol Lon Derw in Bridgend

Mr Harris said: ‘There is still no solution to the problem with inconsiderate parking on Lon Derw during school drop-off times. It’s really causing residents to suffer now and we think something has to be done.

READ MORE: Long-running battle between locals and school-run parents descends into ‘screaming’ threats of violence… and now they’re installing BOLLARDS 

‘The housing estate is a small cul-de-sac with one road in and one road out, but because there is nowhere to park, parents come into the estate and park wherever they can.

‘It can be carnage out there at times, with dozens of cars lining the pavements and roads, blocking people into their driveways, and causing tensions to flare.

‘Obviously it’s very stressful to the people who live here when they can’t get in or out of their properties, but to have this amount of traffic coming into a small estate like this is unsafe for the children and pedestrians as well.

‘Police have been out which does stop the issue for a short while, but obviously they can’t be here all the time and when they leave it goes right back to how it was before. It’s very frustrating for everyone. ‘

Another homeowner said the inconsiderate parking had even caused them to consider moving in order to get away from the issue.

They said: ‘We have this constant feeling of being watched, and while we feel for parents as they have to park somewhere, there are also cases where there is a complete lack of respect – with people lining the streets, blocking cars in their drives, and generally parking however they want.’

Cllr Tim Thomas said he has been dealing with complaints for a number of years and thinks now is the time for the local council to act.

Neighbours are left frustrated as their driveways are blocked by parents during the school-run

Fed-up neighbours are battling against parents ‘parking inconsiderately’ and blocking driveways during the school-run at Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend

Police have been brought in to patrol the area but residents say the issue occurs agin once they have left 

Aerial shot of the estate located next to Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend

He said: ‘I have spoken to many residents living around Brynmenyn Primary, and they are angered that the danger from parking within the school has been migrated into the community. This is especially the case in Lon Derw and Heol Adare.

‘While I am aware there remains concerns over the safety of the school drop-off point in Brynmenyn Primary, the council must adopt measures to resolve this. This could include parking marshals or considering lockdown periods.

‘There would likely be a financial cost to this, but that would be a small price to pay for the safety of pupils within the school and outside in the community.

‘I also understand that the police are patrolling local streets before and after school. This will be welcome to people living in problem areas.

‘However, a solution is required to ensure that all parents have a safe and viable option to get children to school. Fundamentally, I am disappointed that this remains a problem for a modern school and its layout.’

The long-running feud flared after families living on the cul-de-sac say their street is ‘carnage’ at school pick-up times

The council said vehicles causing obstructions by parking inconsiderately on a public highway should be reported to South Wales Police

One homeowner said the incosiderate parking had caused them to consider moving in order to get away from the issue

Resident Mal Harris said: ‘Police have been out which does stop the issue for a short while, but obviously they can’t be here all the time’ 

Bridgend Council said there are parking restrictions on the access road to the school to help with road safety.

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 residential properties in the area.

‘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.’

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