School run drivers targeted with nails

Tempers flare in posh cul-de-sac over twice-daily invasion of cars

RESIDENTS of an affluent cul-de-sac have been accused of gluing nails to their road to stop parents parking there during the school run.

Homeowners in Old Rectory Close, Highbridge, Somerset, argue their peaceful existence is being shattered by a twice-daily onslaught of cars outside the stone-arch entrance to their road, and in the cul-de-sac itself.

Parents of children at nearby East Brent Church of England Academy have long used spaces outside the close as a quick and legal drop-off point.

But over the past week, tempers have flared after grandmother-of-two Janet Smith claimed one of her tyres was deliberately vandalised with a nail glued upright in the road.

Five parents have reported similar incidents, with claims the nails and screws are hidden among leaves.

One mother is even said to have been told she would ‘find nails in her tyres’ if she continued parking in the cul-de-sac, where homes are worth around £500,000.

Over the last week, police have been conducting doorto-door inquiries and taking pictures.

Mrs Smith, 62, said: ‘Nails are being placed at the side of the road.

‘I went there on Thursday morning and got back into my car and turned around in the close and I thought, “what’s that noise?”

‘ I looked around and couldn’t see anything, but when I got home and when the wheel was in a different position I could see it was a screw that was making the noise. Somebody is going to have a nasty accident. The Upset: School run mums and children in the close Right: Janet Smith with a nail and screw she found in cul-de-sac parking isn’t dangerous and nobody is being blocked or anything like that.

‘It is straightforward legal parking and this is the way they are tackling it.

‘It’s not private. It’s a culdesac and we’re there for

‘We’re there ten minutes’

ten minutes.’ A police spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that we received a report from a woman that she discovered a screw in the tyre of her vehicle when she returned home... after doing the school run.

‘ She believes this was deliberate. We are treating the incident as criminal damage.’

Mother- of- three Trish Phillips, 35, and Rachael Smith, 44, said their cars had also been damaged.

Jenny Geach, 36, a mother of two and student nurse, said: ‘Someone told me they would take matters into their own hands, so I started parking somewhere else.’

A resident of the close, who spoke anonymously, said: ‘The only problem is inconsiderate parking.’

Jim Stanford, 68, who lives a few doors down from the cul- de- sac, said: ‘I haven’t seen the nails but I’ve heard that it’s been done.’