DANGEROUS and inconsiderate parking is a problem for every school in Barnsley - are you part of the problem?
The Chronicle regularly takes calls and letters from concerned residents and parents frustrated by the inconsiderate parking outside schools. Our photographers have taken a snapshot of some of the problems across the borough over the last couple of weeks.
It’s difficult to find a school in Barnsley where there isn’t some sort of chaos in the morning or afternoon, often creating potentially dangerous situations for youngsters coming out of school, and leading to misery for local residents.
Coun Tim Cheetham, the council’s spokesman for education, said the only solution was for parents to be more thoughtful about their approach to the school run.
“It is a constant problem, but we cannot do much more,” he said.
It’s not about more parking restrictions, it’s not about more parking enforcement, it’s just about changing parents’ behaviour.
“I’m a working parent myself, so I have every sympathy with parents. I’d do anything for ten more minutes in a morning. But the answer is we either have to walk, or to get up earlier, set off earlier, and park safely a bit further away.
“We’ve made sure schools are not difficult to get to. They’re all accessible and have a walking plan.
“For the sake of convenience, some parents are putting children at risk.
“The only answer is for parents to be more considerate. People just need to think a little bit more socially.”
Coun Cheetham said in addition to safety concerns, school parking issues prompt many complaints by inconvenienced residents near schools.
All schools have problems, but in almost all cases they are over a very short term period - ten minutes in a morning, and slightly longer in an afternoon.
“It’s not every day, it’s five days a week, 32 weeks of the year. People get very exercised about what is a very short term disruption. But for some residents it is a very real problem.
“We had a particular problem in Carlton with people parking in the cemetery. It was actually disrupting funerals, which just beggars belief.”
In response to that problem, in November, one set of gates at the cemetery were welded shut to stop it being used as an unofficial school car park.
