Home page
Operation Dismantle
Parking Mad
Parking Mad
St Aldhelm's School
Elmrise Primary
Courthill First
Kingsleigh Primary
Moordown St John's
Ad Astra First
Heatherlands First
Lilliput First
Bethany Junior School
Corpus Christi
Stourfield Junior
King's Park Primary
Queen's Park Junior
Old Town First
St Michael's Primary
Christ the King
St James Primary
Malmesbury Park
Hill View Primary
Winton Primary
Pokesdown Primary School
Echo Opinion
Echo around the world
Bournemouth News
Poole News
Christchurch News
East Dorset News
North Dorset News
New Forest News
Purbeck News
Books of condolence
Olympic Games competition
Wave 105.2 FM
Columnists
Your Health
National News
National Video News
Entertainment News
Have your say
Features
Echo Promotions
Site Map
Search Advanced Search
Parking Mad
BARKING MAD
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD: A police officer warns a parent who stopped on the yellow zig-zag lines outside Bethany Junior School yesterday morning
YOU'VE BEEN TOLD: A police officer warns a parent who stopped on the yellow zig-zag lines outside Bethany Junior School yesterday morning

FOLLOWING the Daily Echo's Parking Mad campaign, police are cracking down on dangerous parking outside a Bournemouth school.

Police started their three-day campaign outside Bethany Junior School in Boscombe on Tuesday morning.

Incredibly, despite the presence of two uniformed police officers and two police community support officers, five parents pulled up on the zig-zag lines outside the school entrance in Knole Road and another parked with two wheels on the pavement.

When a couple of dustbin collection lorries tried to pass along the road there was chaos.

The officers spoke to parents reminding them they could park in the Freemasons' Hall car park further down the road.

Police Constable Gordon Wallis approached several parents dropping off their children to explain why it was dangerous to park on the zig-zags.

The police issued warnings and noted down registration plates and if they notice the same cars parking on the zig-zags a second time, they will issue a ticket.

PC Wallis said: "The parents always say they did not realise they are doing anything wrong, which is just rubbish.

"It clearly says on the road School - keep clear'."

They also handed out leaflets designed by 10-year-old Chloe Nix, a Year 6 pupil at the school highlighting the dangers of parking inconsiderately outside the school.

Chloe, from Springbourne, won a family ticket to Bournemouth's Oceanarium for her design, which beat the 80 other entries in the poster competition.

The Daily Echo has been running its Parking Mad campaign to highlight the dangers of inconsiderate parking outside schools.

6:03am Wednesday 30th April 2008

   

Related Links
See our campaign and photo galleries
Print   Email this   Comment
Posted by: scooteria, Westbourne on 6:39am Wed 30 Apr 08
Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target.
I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age.
Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
Posted by: alasdair, windsor/kosovo on 7:03am Wed 30 Apr 08
all i ask is why did the police give the drivers a second chance they where illegally parked breaking the law if tickets are issued and the person feels it where it hurts in the pocket so be it
Posted by: yvonne tomasso, sturminster newton on 7:15am Wed 30 Apr 08
I agree with alasdair, no second chances!! They are breaking the law so fine them. Get up earlier and find somewhere safe to park, I did it and its not a hard thing to do. Most of these parents are just lazy and inconsiderate.
Posted by: muffin the mule, wallisdown on 8:05am Wed 30 Apr 08
unbelievable !!! if you whizz through a speed camera at 36 mph you dont get a second chance why this consession for these ignorant idiots
Posted by: 2Much, New Forest on 8:15am Wed 30 Apr 08
scooteria wrote:
Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target.
I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age.
Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
I kind of agree here..a bit harsh maybe...but there's a point to be made.

A lot of these schools were built without knowledge of how traffic would expand to how it is today..so maybe the local authorities need to think about infrastructure, and introduce safer walking and crossing for kids.
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 8:39am Wed 30 Apr 08
When a couple of dustbin collection lorries tried to pass along the road there was chaos.


and what genius decided to collect rubbish from this road at school drop off time?!
Posted by: Phil, Poole on 8:52am Wed 30 Apr 08
yvonne tomasso wrote:
I agree with alasdair, no second chances!! They are breaking the law so fine them. Get up earlier and find somewhere safe to park, I did it and its not a hard thing to do. Most of these parents are just lazy and inconsiderate.
Totally agree. They should have been fined on the spot.
Posted by: Adrian X, Poole on 8:59am Wed 30 Apr 08
scooteria wrote:
Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target.
I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age.
Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
Unfortunately, dangerous parking kills children.

It is simply laziness that causes parents to park illegally.

It is simple and doesn't take much more time to park in a legal place further away from the school and walk the remaining distance.

Wouldn't you rather walk an extra few hundred metres than have dead or injured children?
Posted by: observer, bmth on 9:03am Wed 30 Apr 08
One rule for some .........
Posted by: rfraser3, Bournemouth on 9:42am Wed 30 Apr 08
muffin the mule wrote:
unbelievable !!! if you whizz through a speed camera at 36 mph you dont get a second chance why this consession for these ignorant idiots
Quite. Ignorance of the law has never been an excuse so why now?
Posted by: Mark, Bournemouth on 9:44am Wed 30 Apr 08
alasdair wrote:
all i ask is why did the police give the drivers a second chance they where illegally parked breaking the law if tickets are issued and the person feels it where it hurts in the pocket so be it
Absolutely! When a speed camera catches you at just over 30mph you don't get a friendly chat and a second chance.
I think these parents dangerous actions are a mix of ignorance and selfish arrogance.
No doubt most offenders will be from the career benefits brigade!
Posted by: jess rabbit, bournemouth on 9:58am Wed 30 Apr 08
bournemouth cannot issue parking fines, as their tickets were cheaper than the ones traffic wardens issued, so they stopped giving tickets out a few years ago!!
Posted by: muffin the mule, wallisdown on 9:59am Wed 30 Apr 08
rfraser3 wrote:
muffin the mule wrote:
unbelievable !!! if you whizz through a speed camera at 36 mph you dont get a second chance why this consession for these ignorant idiots
Quite. Ignorance of the law has never been an excuse so why now?
the authorities have taken this 'softly softly' approach to this problem,even bought in the 'big guns' but havent fired them ! so what message does the next bunch of ignorant pigs get from this ? plead ignorance and alls okay ,cos after all they wont be at your childs school two days on the trot and if they are theyll be dressed in flourescent jackets so if you spot one conform fot that day and tomorrow you can do as youve always done . - a message then to the people who manage this,take the uniforms off the ticket issuers,fine the offenders instantly and target a particular school for a few days . suddenly a buzz will go round and you will have effectively 'educated' a whole group of people in one go. then leave it a week and go back again and catch a load more - it wont take too long for the message to get round .never mind excuses ,if everybody had one ,chaos would ensue ,fact is some people take their responsibilities seriously and some people take the p*ss and they all know what they can and cant do
Posted by: scooteria, Westbourne on 10:04am Wed 30 Apr 08
Adrian X wrote:
scooteria wrote: Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target. I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age. Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
Unfortunately, dangerous parking kills children. It is simply laziness that causes parents to park illegally. It is simple and doesn't take much more time to park in a legal place further away from the school and walk the remaining distance. Wouldn't you rather walk an extra few hundred metres than have dead or injured children?
Adrian X,
I have walked all of our daughters to school over the years and I still walk the last one left at primary school.
I know there have been accidents outside schools, but there were probably more serious accidents years ago when parking wasn't such a problem and kids ran out into oncoming faster traffic.
You can walk an extra few hundred yards from some schools and still not find suitable parking places.
This paper's Parking Mad campaign is being stirred up mainly by people who don't have children at school and/or don't have to do a school run.
We parents are an easy target - the reporters should be taking on the bigger culprits, the Council.
Posted by: simon, bournemouth on 10:26am Wed 30 Apr 08
two police officers and two PCO's. Do they have nothing else to do?.. for three days! If this is not about revenue collecting i dont know what is... catch some bloody criminals instead for gods sake..And as for the echos campaign, its noting short of victimisation by some third rate local rag, that can never get its facts right.
Posted by: yetanothertwist, Bournemouth on 10:35am Wed 30 Apr 08
simon wrote:
two police officers and two PCO's. Do they have nothing else to do?.. for three days! If this is not about revenue collecting i dont know what is... catch some bloody criminals instead for gods sake..And as for the echos campaign, its noting short of victimisation by some third rate local rag, that can never get its facts right.
I'm assuming you are one of those inconsiderate parents who insist on parking where they shouldn't and then moaning when they get caught! Get a life and park a little way from the school instead of pulling up at the school gate at 8.55 and shoving your kid out the car door before speeding off, regardless of other road users!
Posted by: yetanothertwist, Bournemouth on 10:45am Wed 30 Apr 08
simon wrote:
two police officers and two PCO's. Do they have nothing else to do?.. for three days! If this is not about revenue collecting i dont know what is... catch some bloody criminals instead for gods sake..And as for the echos campaign, its noting short of victimisation by some third rate local rag, that can never get its facts right.
I'm assuming you are one of those inconsiderate parents who insist on parking where they shouldn't and then moaning when they get caught! Get a life and park a little way from the school instead of pulling up at the school gate at 8.55 and shoving your kid out the car door before speeding off, regardless of other road users!
Posted by: kinson res, kinson on 10:46am Wed 30 Apr 08
its all about the safety of the children at the end of the day and thse parents dont give a **** about the safety of their kids.(until one of them get hit by a car then they'll want something done)get a grip and abide the law,imbeciles..
Posted by: scooteria, Westbourne on 10:55am Wed 30 Apr 08
yetanothertwist wrote:
simon wrote: two police officers and two PCO's. Do they have nothing else to do?.. for three days! If this is not about revenue collecting i dont know what is... catch some bloody criminals instead for gods sake..And as for the echos campaign, its noting short of victimisation by some third rate local rag, that can never get its facts right.
I'm assuming you are one of those inconsiderate parents who insist on parking where they shouldn't and then moaning when they get caught! Get a life and park a little way from the school instead of pulling up at the school gate at 8.55 and shoving your kid out the car door before speeding off, regardless of other road users!
Why do you assume that, because someone like Simon makes a reasonable comment, he must be one of the culprits.
I can't believe how so many unsubstantiated insults are allowed to fly around here.
Or are they actually written by Echo journalists preparing for life in the Sun ?
Posted by: Richard, Bournemouth on 10:55am Wed 30 Apr 08
The root problem here is lazy selfishness. There is no excuse for a parent not being able to park 5 minutes away and walk a couple of hundred yards. Dorset Police should have told their officer to issue tickets immediately.
Posted by: yetanothertwist, Bournemouth on 11:28am Wed 30 Apr 08
scooteria wrote:
yetanothertwist wrote:
simon wrote: two police officers and two PCO's. Do they have nothing else to do?.. for three days! If this is not about revenue collecting i dont know what is... catch some bloody criminals instead for gods sake..And as for the echos campaign, its noting short of victimisation by some third rate local rag, that can never get its facts right.
I'm assuming you are one of those inconsiderate parents who insist on parking where they shouldn't and then moaning when they get caught! Get a life and park a little way from the school instead of pulling up at the school gate at 8.55 and shoving your kid out the car door before speeding off, regardless of other road users!
Why do you assume that, because someone like Simon makes a reasonable comment, he must be one of the culprits. I can't believe how so many unsubstantiated insults are allowed to fly around here. Or are they actually written by Echo journalists preparing for life in the Sun ?
I'm assuming this because being a parent with children at this particular school I see this behaviour day in, day out. Any "reasonable" person would appreciate what the police are doing here. It has had to come to this because when members of staff at the school have politely asked parents to park appropriately, all the have received is a torrent of abuse! So Scooteria I do know what I'm talking about. Perhaps you ought to get yourself down to your local school gates at 3pm and see first hand the problems caused by these incosiderate parents you are trying to defend, or are you one of the guilty ones too.
Posted by: yetanothertwist, Bournemouth on 11:38am Wed 30 Apr 08
scooteria wrote:
Adrian X wrote:
scooteria wrote: Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target. I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age. Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
Unfortunately, dangerous parking kills children. It is simply laziness that causes parents to park illegally. It is simple and doesn't take much more time to park in a legal place further away from the school and walk the remaining distance. Wouldn't you rather walk an extra few hundred metres than have dead or injured children?
Adrian X, I have walked all of our daughters to school over the years and I still walk the last one left at primary school. I know there have been accidents outside schools, but there were probably more serious accidents years ago when parking wasn't such a problem and kids ran out into oncoming faster traffic. You can walk an extra few hundred yards from some schools and still not find suitable parking places. This paper's Parking Mad campaign is being stirred up mainly by people who don't have children at school and/or don't have to do a school run. We parents are an easy target - the reporters should be taking on the bigger culprits, the Council.
Scooteria just read your comment further up, you should know better than most then! I'm no great fan of the council, but in the Springbourne area they are at least considering a 20 mile an hour zone with traffic calming measures, this went out to public consultation last week. Why don't you lobby you local councillors to do something about problems in your area instead of moaning on here!
Posted by: JLC, here on 11:43am Wed 30 Apr 08
I honestly can't believe how much hysteria this has caused. For goodness sake it's just a bit of congestion outside schools. It's nothing new. It's been like it for years.

Stop getting your knickers in a twist about something that really isn't that much of an issue. Sure a couple of kids may have been bumped into by cars but I've yet to see any serious injuries that have been caused by this issue? Kids get hurt by fast moving cars not people crawling along. You're all just jumping on the bandwagon of hype. Just like you will when the Echo comes up with its next brilliant campaign:

"Fireworks of death" or "sunburn suicide" what can we look forward to next?
Posted by: scooteria, Westbourne on 11:48am Wed 30 Apr 08
yetanothertwist wrote:
scooteria wrote:
Adrian X wrote:
scooteria wrote: Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target. I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age. Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
Unfortunately, dangerous parking kills children. It is simply laziness that causes parents to park illegally. It is simple and doesn't take much more time to park in a legal place further away from the school and walk the remaining distance. Wouldn't you rather walk an extra few hundred metres than have dead or injured children?
Adrian X, I have walked all of our daughters to school over the years and I still walk the last one left at primary school. I know there have been accidents outside schools, but there were probably more serious accidents years ago when parking wasn't such a problem and kids ran out into oncoming faster traffic. You can walk an extra few hundred yards from some schools and still not find suitable parking places. This paper's Parking Mad campaign is being stirred up mainly by people who don't have children at school and/or don't have to do a school run. We parents are an easy target - the reporters should be taking on the bigger culprits, the Council.
Scooteria just read your comment further up, you should know better than most then! I'm no great fan of the council, but in the Springbourne area they are at least considering a 20 mile an hour zone with traffic calming measures, this went out to public consultation last week. Why don't you lobby you local councillors to do something about problems in your area instead of moaning on here!
Yetanothertwist

I've been lobbying our Councillors for years.
Their constant response can be paraphrased by 'we need a death before we'll take any action'.
Posted by: Nick, Bournemouth on 12:21pm Wed 30 Apr 08
I know most people are not effected by common sense when they get into a car.
Unimportant headlines like this will not affect you. I sure you know better…

Boy, 11, critical after accident outside Chippenham school 27-02-2007
Car came close to knocking George, 6. 7 Mar 08
PUPIL INJURED 19 Mar 08
How long before it is YOUR child, YOUR nephew / niece / relative?

Now my plea.
As a parent with 5 kids of school age, all of whom WALK.
Please try to obey the law. You might not like it, but it IS there for a reason.

I have attended one of my kids funerals. (Cot death, not road). I have no wish to attend another one.
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 12:25pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Unfortunately, dangerous parking kills children.


Well I've spent time looking into that and its simply not true. Not true at all.

Parking on zig-zags is a not on and fines should be issued on the spot. But I think an increasing number of people are seeing that the parking mad campaign is rediculously over-sold and offers no practical benefit in terms of child safety.
The echo ought to just let it go.
Posted by: Nick, Bournemouth on 1:51pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Well I've spent time looking into that and its simply not true. Not true at all.


This is true. As yet there has been no deaths, just injuries.
I think this is because someone took some time and painted some lines, and zig- zags, to show where the dangerous bits are. ;-)
Posted by: Tim M, usa on 1:53pm Wed 30 Apr 08
No doubt most offenders will be from the career benefits brigade!

Doubt that -- no car. More likely from the "I've got far more important things to worry about than zigzag lines and what is it to you anyway?" brigade.
Posted by: simon, bournemouth on 1:53pm Wed 30 Apr 08
yes agree with pokesdownmark. Dangerus parking doesnt kill children. How can a parked car kill a child? Yes they should lower speeds limits to 20mph outside schools, but that has nothing to do with parking.
Posted by: yetanothertwist, Bournemouth on 2:14pm Wed 30 Apr 08
simon wrote:
yes agree with pokesdownmark. Dangerus parking doesnt kill children. How can a parked car kill a child? Yes they should lower speeds limits to 20mph outside schools, but that has nothing to do with parking.
I beg to differ, zig-zag lines are placed outside schools to enable children and parents to cross safely without having to negotiate the gap between inappropriately parked cars and therefore running the risk of being knocked down by cars coming along the road. If you and Pokesdownmark want to be pedantic then so be it. Bottom line...reduced visibility = danger and possibly injury/death
Posted by: AS~U~R, Poole on 2:18pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Lazy parents get on my nerves. I have a disabled child and a blue badge and yet I cannot park in the school's designated disabled parking spaces because of parents who, through either being lazy or in a hurry, park there or block the road. Every single day, I have to park away from the school. It makes me cross walking with my disabled child, seeing parents doing 3 point turns, mounting the pavements, and parking on zigzags and double yellow lines. Simon, of course dangerous parking can kill a child. The zig zags and yellow lines are there for a reason. Children are forced to cross the road in between parked cars and those cars block the vision of the drivers and children. It is irresponsable and pure ignorance to suggest that parking is not dangerous. Of course it is. Myself and my child were hit by a car reversing. The school road and all the surrounding roads the cars were parked, even on yellow lines and zig zags. We had no choice but to cross the road in between parked cars. We stepped out on to the road, looking out for traffic, and in the meantime, one of the cars that was parked, the owner reversed to get out the space. We were hit. I punched the car hard and screamed for the driver to stop or we would have been crushed. Parked cars can and do kill or risk serious injury.
Posted by: Nick, Bournemouth on 2:29pm Wed 30 Apr 08
How can a parked car kill a child?



Anyone remember the story of the mum who ran down her own child a few years ago?
If I remember it correctly she started it up while it was in gear and it shot forward over her little girl.

Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 2:31pm Wed 30 Apr 08
AS~U~R wrote:
Lazy parents get on my nerves. I have a disabled child and a blue badge and yet I cannot park in the school's designated disabled parking spaces because of parents who, through either being lazy or in a hurry, park there or block the road. Every single day, I have to park away from the school. It makes me cross walking with my disabled child, seeing parents doing 3 point turns, mounting the pavements, and parking on zigzags and double yellow lines. Simon, of course dangerous parking can kill a child. The zig zags and yellow lines are there for a reason. Children are forced to cross the road in between parked cars and those cars block the vision of the drivers and children. It is irresponsable and pure ignorance to suggest that parking is not dangerous. Of course it is. Myself and my child were hit by a car reversing. The school road and all the surrounding roads the cars were parked, even on yellow lines and zig zags. We had no choice but to cross the road in between parked cars. We stepped out on to the road, looking out for traffic, and in the meantime, one of the cars that was parked, the owner reversed to get out the space. We were hit. I punched the car hard and screamed for the driver to stop or we would have been crushed. Parked cars can and do kill or risk serious injury.
You w2ill never convince the idiots who do it,or the ones on here who condone it,book them.
Posted by: yvonne tomasso, sturminster newton on 2:34pm Wed 30 Apr 08
JLC. Have you got children? How can you say its not much of an issue, yes it has been going on for years and do you know why, because nobody will do anything until a child is killed and then the blame will go to anyone else but the culprit,parents need to stop and think where and how they park, be considerate. I had the pleasure of doing that duty after school when I worked as a teaching assistant and the abuse I got was unbelievable,they honestly thought that blocking someones driveway and the road was ok and its tough if the house owner or the emergency services want to get through. On one occassion the fire department had to use this road and it was an emergency, they had to get out and lift this Ford Fiesta out of the way so they could attend the emergency. Thats just one example that has stuck in my mind, there are plenty more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 2:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Bottom line...reduced visibility = danger and possibly injury/death


no thats not the bottom line... its near the bottom but its not at the bottom!

Reality is more complex. When kids have better visibility they take less care. I know this because I regularly drive down Harewood Ave when Portchester and Avonbourne are filling up. With the 20mph limit the kids no longer stop and look when they cross. They just walk out into the road and trust the cars to stop. The cars usually do stop. But I have seen several near misses. One example involved a car having to brake when a group of kids walked in front of it. A young cyclist was in the process of overtaking the car (!) and had to suddently take a much wider line to avoid hitting car. Result: the crossed over the path of an oncoming car. This braked and there were no collisions. That time. Now, none of the kids cycling to school have a helmet. Not cool I suppose. Even a gentle head contact with the road can be extremely serious.

So there's my case... creating safety is not just about visibility and speed. How about an echo campagn on cycle helmets?
Also as I have said before, learing to cross the road safely in a variety of conditions is a vital life skill. Are we avoiding teaching our kids this skill for the sake of having a good old british moan?
Posted by: simon, bournemouth on 3:02pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Nick wrote:
How can a parked car kill a child?
Anyone remember the story of the mum who ran down her own child a few years ago? If I remember it correctly she started it up while it was in gear and it shot forward over her little girl.
whats that got to do with anything? are all the cars that park illegally, likely to do the same? Yes there is a problem with cars parked badly, blocking views. But there are plenty of crossings available outside schools that should be used. Speeding is the issue, NOT PARKING. The echo strirs things up with their pathetic little bandwagons. Histerical people all jump on it and say "Tow the cars away, expel their chldren" and most of these people havent had a child at school since 1943. and then the police spend three days with PCO's policing parking spaces outside a school. Its pathetic. And no, i have never been "moved on" or had a ticket in my life, and yes i do take my child to school on occasions. Whast pathetic is you old guard on here jump on this rubbish local rags victimisation campagin, and belive everyting they tell you. Have you ever actualy been to school recently? and seen that its not as bad as this paper makes out? It certainly doesnt justify taking our well needed police off the streets to issue parking tickets.
Posted by: simon, bournemouth on 3:06pm Wed 30 Apr 08
i apologise for my spelling btw. i dont stop for air when im in a bad mood! and im a rubbish typist!
Posted by: AS~U~R, Poole on 3:22pm Wed 30 Apr 08
simon wrote:
Nick wrote:
How can a parked car kill a child?
Anyone remember the story of the mum who ran down her own child a few years ago? If I remember it correctly she started it up while it was in gear and it shot forward over her little girl.
whats that got to do with anything? are all the cars that park illegally, likely to do the same? Yes there is a problem with cars parked badly, blocking views. But there are plenty of crossings available outside schools that should be used. Speeding is the issue, NOT PARKING. The echo strirs things up with their pathetic little bandwagons. Histerical people all jump on it and say "Tow the cars away, expel their chldren" and most of these people havent had a child at school since 1943. and then the police spend three days with PCO's policing parking spaces outside a school. Its pathetic. And no, i have never been "moved on" or had a ticket in my life, and yes i do take my child to school on occasions. Whast pathetic is you old guard on here jump on this rubbish local rags victimisation campagin, and belive everyting they tell you. Have you ever actualy been to school recently? and seen that its not as bad as this paper makes out? It certainly doesnt justify taking our well needed police off the streets to issue parking tickets.
There is not always good crossing patrols outside schools at all. This is a big problem. I take my children to school and pick them up every day. Every day I see parents driving AND parking irresponsably outside schools. Speeding is not an issue outside schools because if anyone can get near a school during school run time, it is unlikely that anyone can drive more than 5 miles an hour due to the backed up traffic, double parking and parents stopping in the middle of the road dropping the children off. Speed is not the issue, the drivers are. If people parked a little away from the schools and god forbid, WALKED, the problem would be solved. That's what I do every day, despite the fact my child is disabled.
Posted by: Trifecta, Southbourne on 3:29pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Simon, what are your views on the parents at Stourfield Junior and Infant School who have access to a large, free car park as well as numerous on road parking spaces a couple of hundred yards from the school BUT still find it necessary to park on double yellow lines and grass verges?
Posted by: JLC, here on 3:38pm Wed 30 Apr 08
So lets get this straight.

Cars parking haphazardly outside schools mean that children may get the odd bump, but it slows all the traffic down to the extent that it is easily avoided (hence being able to punch the window of a car and get it to stop in time).

Removing those cars will free up the roads for cars to drive at speed. Inevitably with cars moving at speed and lots of kids, at some point a kid will get hit by a fast moving car and get seriously hurt, if not killed.

So what is the actual problem? Are kids more likely to get seriously hurt because of this congestion? The answer is no. So get off your high horses and start dealing with reality. Just because you're jealous/ envious/ aggrieved or whatever it is you have against people who drive their children to school pointing the finger and screaming about the "alleged" danger to children doesn't make you a better person.

I'll be thinking it when I drop my kids off tomorrow and succesfully drive away without knocking anyone over.....for the 2459th time!
Posted by: Nick, Bournemouth on 4:41pm Wed 30 Apr 08
JLC
So lets get this straight.
Cars parking haphazardly outside schools mean that children may get the odd bump,..

Hmmm, 40Kg of child against a third of a tonne of car. Never did physics at school then JLC? Who comes out worse?
Even if only a slight chance is there I’d like to do more protect my kids.

Simon
whats that got to do with anything? are all the cars that park illegally, likely to do the same?

No, but you asked a question about how it could happen, and I politely answered with a true life example of how it did happen...

I'll be thinking it when I drop my kids off tomorrow and succesfully drive away without knocking anyone over.....for the 2459th time!
And illegally parking while talking on my mobile phone while doing it….
Posted by: Mike Pickering, Bournemouth on 4:51pm Wed 30 Apr 08
so if it's illegal to park on the zigzags, why aren't there bollards there ?
On the school side of the street, there should be a zone, 2 cars long, with a manually operated traffic light..
2 cars pull in, kids get out/in, light goes green, 2 other cars pull in , red light - kids get out/in.
I see this system operating very successfully every day, noone gets run over, knocked down, fined, villified in the local paper etc.

As much as I applaud the intention of the Echo campaign, and as much as I admire the journalistic instincts to create a self-perpetuating story, I see very little evidence of any solutions either in the editorial, nor the polemic of the respondents.
The time has come for a discussion of what needs to be done to address the issues of which we are now all painfully aware.
Raise the game, Echo - less shock and horror, more responsible, expert, informed opinion and reporting of how this issue is tackled in other regions and countries.
It's not something gets airtime in the United Nations, so someone, somewhere must have come up with a workable system somewhere. We're all at work all day, whilst you are investigative journalists - please, investigate.
Posted by: The-bleeding-obvious, Bournemouth on 4:52pm Wed 30 Apr 08
We have 'school crossing patrols' why not have 'school drop of patrols'? Clearly the jobsworths have spotted an oportunity to make a fast buck here. But instead of using super wardens to harass the motorist why not have a school drop off patrol that oversees the orderly dropping off of children outside schools, the yellow zig-zag lines indicating where to drop off, make the road oneway, single file and no passing! We now have a situation where you have to look out for snooping wardens as well as kids outside school entrances.
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 5:04pm Wed 30 Apr 08
It is blatantly obvious that some of you have not worked at a school and had the job of trying to control traffic access to a school that has a run in road with a drop off zone only, with a two disabled parking areas, yet every morning and afternoon it is blocked by the parents who drive in, sometimes at speed because they are late or flustered by their children at that time of morning.

When you have had to call for an ambulance because a child has been injured by a car doing 20mph through the drive in area, and not paying attention also to the road and the many children making their way to school.

You have not obviously had the abuse from parents with such quirks as, have you got children, I am running late, escalating to down right abuse of foul language and physical threats.

When you have nearly been run over yourself because you are trying to control the traffic, keep it moving, and yet another parent becomes impatient because you are holding them up.

The councils have road safety officers but they will not bother, and only offer advise which in the main one has already implemented.

It is pointless taking numbers unless you know the names of the drivers, as there is no where to ascertain from the number who the driver is. This is one way where the Police can have that advantage.

Perhaps Caretakers and Headteachers are given the powers of traffic controllers with the ability to get details and pass on to the proper authorities. I dont know what the answer is, but something needs to be done.

Whatever happens, please do not think accidents do not happen, or it is a waster of time. It has got worse, and it will get more worse if nothing is done.

Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 5:07pm Wed 30 Apr 08
The-bleeding-obvious wrote:
We have 'school crossing patrols' why not have 'school drop of patrols'? Clearly the jobsworths have spotted an oportunity to make a fast buck here. But instead of using super wardens to harass the motorist why not have a school drop off patrol that oversees the orderly dropping off of children outside schools, the yellow zig-zag lines indicating where to drop off, make the road oneway, single file and no passing! We now have a situation where you have to look out for snooping wardens as well as kids outside school entrances.
A good idea in principle, but it does not work I can assure you. This is what we had at the school I refer to above, and they stilled parked, locked up the cars and disappeared. Cars would also park in two sometimes three rows. It was ridiculous.

Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 5:14pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Christopher wrote:
The-bleeding-obvious wrote:
We have 'school crossing patrols' why not have 'school drop of patrols'? Clearly the jobsworths have spotted an oportunity to make a fast buck here. But instead of using super wardens to harass the motorist why not have a school drop off patrol that oversees the orderly dropping off of children outside schools, the yellow zig-zag lines indicating where to drop off, make the road oneway, single file and no passing! We now have a situation where you have to look out for snooping wardens as well as kids outside school entrances.
A good idea in principle, but it does not work I can assure you. This is what we had at the school I refer to above, and they stilled parked, locked up the cars and disappeared. Cars would also park in two sometimes three rows. It was ridiculous.

I will never understand why there are those who will stand up for the idiots who park illegaly,is it because they are selfish as well. ITS breaking the law.
Posted by: Mum of three, Bournemouth on 5:14pm Wed 30 Apr 08
I thought i had heard it all until i read some of the comments on this one!
Firstly the police get had a go at, and then the binmen for daring to do their job when the poor parents are dropping the kids off!!.. Of course the inconsiderate parents are not in any way to blame are they!?
As a parent of kids at this school i know full well that parking and dropping the kids off outside these school gates is nothing short of laziness. It is a well known fact that there has been a parking facility made available for many years in the Masonic Hall car park, which is just a few minutes walk from Bethany school. The fact is that a huge number of parents are not prepared to put themselves out a little and walk that very short distance as they think they have the god given right to get in their car and point it in whichever direction they choose, clogging up the roads and bugging the rest of us with their car fumes in the process. St clements school round the corner from Bethany school is no different.. I have lost count of the number of times that i have had to squeeze through with the puschair on the pavement as a parent decides to park their car up on the pavement. Residential homes have their driveways blocked and an ambulance could not get through once.
Good luck to the echo with this campaign..about time.
And well done and thank you to Dorset police for putting the resources into this. It is something that should have been done years ago.
I also agree with those people that say they should have been fined not just warned.


Posted by: rmdavis138, Poole on 6:00pm Wed 30 Apr 08
This is one of the worst schools for parking problems. I used to go there. I also remember taking over an hour to pass this school one afternoon. About time this problem is sorted out.
Posted by: AS~U~R, Poole on 6:54pm Wed 30 Apr 08
PETE WOODLEY wrote:
Christopher wrote:
The-bleeding-obvious wrote: We have 'school crossing patrols' why not have 'school drop of patrols'? Clearly the jobsworths have spotted an oportunity to make a fast buck here. But instead of using super wardens to harass the motorist why not have a school drop off patrol that oversees the orderly dropping off of children outside schools, the yellow zig-zag lines indicating where to drop off, make the road oneway, single file and no passing! We now have a situation where you have to look out for snooping wardens as well as kids outside school entrances.
A good idea in principle, but it does not work I can assure you. This is what we had at the school I refer to above, and they stilled parked, locked up the cars and disappeared. Cars would also park in two sometimes three rows. It was ridiculous.
I will never understand why there are those who will stand up for the idiots who park illegaly,is it because they are selfish as well. ITS breaking the law.
Here here! You normally find the ones who bleat about traffic wardens and campaigns like this, are the ones in part responsable.
Posted by: Rose, Bournemouth on 6:58pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Throughout all the hysteria this 3rd rate rag drums up on this issue there has only been ONE case of a child slightly bumped by a car and that was because the child DIDNT USE THE CROSSING!! outside Stourfield. For goodness sake Echo move onto a new topic all you're doing is stirring up the old farts who have nothing better to do than moan at "young parents today"
Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 7:06pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Rose wrote:
Throughout all the hysteria this 3rd rate rag drums up on this issue there has only been ONE case of a child slightly bumped by a car and that was because the child DIDNT USE THE CROSSING!! outside Stourfield. For goodness sake Echo move onto a new topic all you're doing is stirring up the old farts who have nothing better to do than moan at "young parents today"
Just to remind new readers,that Rose has already stated that SHE will park where she likes and when she likes,how irresponsible can you get.
Posted by: swampy, poole on 7:10pm Wed 30 Apr 08
scooteria wrote:
Adrian X wrote:
scooteria wrote: Let's see just how effective your ridiculous Parking Mad campaign has been in about a year's time, by which time you will have moved on to attack another easy target. I know you've got the support from many one-eyed contributors to your comments' pages, but these seem to be people who have never taken kids to school, or did so in a different age. Why aren't you attacking the Council for not providing more safe walking routes or better dropping-off and collecting facilities?
Unfortunately, dangerous parking kills children. It is simply laziness that causes parents to park illegally. It is simple and doesn't take much more time to park in a legal place further away from the school and walk the remaining distance. Wouldn't you rather walk an extra few hundred metres than have dead or injured children?
Adrian X, I have walked all of our daughters to school over the years and I still walk the last one left at primary school. I know there have been accidents outside schools, but there were probably more serious accidents years ago when parking wasn't such a problem and kids ran out into oncoming faster traffic. You can walk an extra few hundred yards from some schools and still not find suitable parking places. This paper's Parking Mad campaign is being stirred up mainly by people who don't have children at school and/or don't have to do a school run. We parents are an easy target - the reporters should be taking on the bigger culprits, the Council.
the yellow lines are there for a reason and if drivers want to take the risk, they hould accept the consequences, after all, most derivers had to pass a test
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 7:45pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Just to remind new readers,that Rose has already stated that SHE will park where she likes and when she likes,how irresponsible can you get.


But her points about the merit of the campaign are still valid. School parking can be an inconvenience. It demands extra care and courtesy as does any busy situation from a supermarket to a post office queue. Such situations highlight the selfish actions of a few. But the claim is that is it dangerous. Yet nothing has been put forward to support this specific claim.
I think that is because it is not dangerous.

The death on the roads campaign was useful. Its a shame that has gone quiet. Maybe its easier to hang around school gates with a notepad and a camera?

Posted by: PETE WOODLEY on 7:53pm Wed 30 Apr 08
PokesdownMark wrote:
Just to remind new readers,that Rose has already stated that SHE will park where she likes and when she likes,how irresponsible can you get.


But her points about the merit of the campaign are still valid. School parking can be an inconvenience. It demands extra care and courtesy as does any busy situation from a supermarket to a post office queue. Such situations highlight the selfish actions of a few. But the claim is that is it dangerous. Yet nothing has been put forward to support this specific claim.
I think that is because it is not dangerous.

The death on the roads campaign was useful. Its a shame that has gone quiet. Maybe its easier to hang around school gates with a notepad and a camera?

You have mentioned the selfish actions of a few, Rose is one of them and YOU defend her.You know she is in the wrong.
Posted by: Angus, Bournemouth on 8:10pm Wed 30 Apr 08
How about publically naming an