‘How do they expect us to pick up our children?’
Frustration at all-day parking restrictions outside school
PARENTS and staff at an Ickenham primary school are concerned for their children’s safety after new parking enforcements came into effect.
A scheme to deter commuter parking in roads surrounding Glebe Primary School came into force on Monday September 19, but some are concerned it could actually have a bigger impact on parents, who could then take risks while picking their children up at the end of the school day.
The decision to ban parking between 9am and 5pm has even sparked some fierce backlash from many residents, who have called for a change to the
We get nowhere at all to pick up our children safely”
restricted hours or the introduction of permits for parents.
One dad picking up his nine-year-old daughter from the Sussex Road primary on Monday last week said: “Personally I think it’s ludicrous. It’s hurting the parents more commuters.
“We get nowhere at all to pick up our child safely.”
The father of two from Uxbridge added: “We’d probably think about not sending [our two-yearold] here. This is a brilliant school, but this could undermine it.
Other parents were concerned that there are only a handful of spaces for them to legally park to pick up their children.
Nicholas Alford, headteacher at Glebe Primary, said the school has opposed the changes and is concerned parents may arrange to meet their children away from the school entrance, or park than on the zig zag lines at the front.
He said: “My understanding is that they wanted to crack down on commuter parking in the surrounding roads.
“Our big concerns are around the safety of the children. Some parents will take risks or rather than parking will stop and let their children jump in.
“I hope that’s not the case but I’ve got a feeling it will be.”
A Facebook campaign was set up by parents to oppose the changes, called Glebe Parents Against Controlled Parking Extension, which has gathered over 200 members.
Posting in the group one parent said: “We are all deeply concerned about its implications on us as parents of the school and the impact it will have on our children’s education and welfare.
“This leaves us confounded as to how the council expects us to pick our child up in the afternoon.”
The scheme was introduced to deter commuters parking in the roads around the school and using Ickenham Tube station, which is a 10-minute walk away.
Parents have suggested parking permits could be issued to parents picking up their children, or enforcing the restrictions around lunchtime so commuters cannot park all day but children can be picked up from school at 3.30pm.
Glebe Primary School carried out a travel survey of its parents earlier this year in response to the council’s plan, receiving 181 responses ( 51% of those surveyed). It found that 26% of respondents live one to two miles away, 24% live two to four miles away, while 23% live on the Glebe estate. Around 59% travelled to the school by car.
Hillingdon Council has been asked for a comment.