School-run mothers ‘are harder to control than hissing feral cats’

Claws come out in fight to park, says community PC

AMBITIOUS parents might think their educational problems are over when they secure a coveted place at a sought-after school.

But it turns out that bagging a parking spot near the school gates can be every bit as competitive.

according to one community policeman the fight for a space makes some parents harder to deal with than ‘wailing, hissing feral cats’.

Jonathan Hall says they indulge in a ‘vicious game of cat and mouse’ as they try to avoid a parking ticket – even at the cost of blocking driveways.

In desperation, the police community support officer used an official email to beg school-run drivers to behave themselves in littleport, Cambridgeshire.

Mr Hall, a former RSPCa inspector, wrote: ‘When challenged, the parent will become an angry creature, wailing and hissing their annoyance at being challenged over their dangerous parking.

‘The parent stares out from their metal box, with a look of pure hate. a look upon their face saying, “I would splat you with one swipe of my paw (if it was not illegal)”. Never mind the moggies, it is the mothers who bare their claws these days.’

Mr Hall reminded parents that officers patrolled near schools to prevent accidents and said parking on double yellow lines was likely to result in a ticket.

It is not known which school he was referring to but residents confirmed his beat covers littleport community primary school.

One woman, who has an 11-yearold daughter at the school and lives along the same road, said Mr Hall’s remarks were justified. She added: ‘This road is completely chaotic. Everyone is trying to park down roads with no parking spaces. I can’t even park outside my own house.

‘We’ve had countless texts from the headmaster reminding people to park appropriately. But parents just ignore it.

‘I know there’s bickering and fighting going on between the women – it’s all very unsafe. They are so focused on getting a space they stop watching the kids and I think one day a child will be hit.’

Elizabeth Poglia, 70, a retired college lecturer who lives by the school, said: ‘It’s all these well-to-do moth- ers in their posh white Mercedes who are doing it. They have these huge great cars they don’t need and their attitude is “So what? I’m only here for two minutes”.

‘They’re very slick and clever and they’re very self-assured. They are stealthy and will do anything to avoid getting a ticket.

‘They know they’re being inconsiderate but they think they are superior. The ones that go to work are always in a hurry and always pushy.’ another resident, 31-yearold Emilia Zohahlwicz, said: ‘There is a lot of aggression from the mums. They fight for spaces and I think what the PSCO said is truthful.’

Ed Morrow, campaigns officer for Brake, the road safety charity, said illegal parking around schools presented a serious danger to children who can emerge from between stationary cars.

He added: ‘We would urge all parents to be part of the solution, not part of the problem, by considering how their children can get to school other than by car, or if they have to drive, then by sticking to 20mph or below wherever there may be vulnerable people on foot or bike.’

a near-miss accident last March involving a child at a littleport school prompted police to target parents who park dangerously.

Miriam Farrell, 37, whose sons attend littleport community primary, said: ‘The response is perhaps a bit over the top but there is certainly a problem with space.

‘There’s just not enough places for people to park and so people park illegally and compete for spaces.’

Other parents said the parking problem was made worse by schools being overcrowded.

‘I’m only here for two minutes’