Last weekend (Sunday 28th Jan) I sent this email to the infant and junior schools at the back of my house. I also CC'd a local councillor in as she's had her photo in the paper recently, and is taking the credit and enjoying the fame from getting notices put up around the same schools telling people not to park on the junctions - common sense should tell them this message but we all know that is lacking in most these days.
Below is the email I sent - personal details blacked out for obvious reasons!).
Good afternoon,
I am not sure if the driver of a white VW car, Registration Number GL15 OZT is a teacher/assistant, or parent at your school, or over at the infants - I am contacting them as well - but if to do with you, your staff, or one of the parents you have given permission to park inside the school, could you please inform them that driving out of the school gates at speed, bumping up the curb and across the grass before driving at speed down Kennedy Avenue as the children are coming out of school is not only dangerous but totally unacceptable. Thankfully at the time of the incident - Friday 26th January - there were no children in the immediate vicinity, however, had my 78 mother (who had already taken her life in hands crossing High Mead where parents speed whilst paying no attention to anyone other than themselves as they battle for a parking space) not been as adept, agile and quick as she is, the driver of said vehicle would either be visiting her in hospital, or possibly at the morgue!! She knows the risk to her life crossing the road; on the pavement or grass she should be able to be safe. To then continue driving off without so much as a look back to make sure she was ok suggests to me that they (she didn't know if male or female because of the shock of the incident) either didn't care, or were paying no attention; personally I'm not sure which is worse.
On a side note, and I am aware there's not much you can do about it as it's outside of school, but could you possibly remind parents - especially those who park in the residential garage area behind High Mead - that sitting with an engine running for 20/30 minutes is not just illegal it is also adding all manner of pollutants and toxins into the air; could you also remind these parents that blocking the access road to this garage area, and parking in such a manner that they block residents from getting to their garages/homes (often they double-park and wander off meaning anyone living from 2-6 High Mead,1-6 Green Walk, and 2-10 Kennedy Avenue, are unable to access their properties from the back) that they are also blocking emergency vehicles from getting through. God forbid a fire breaks out in one of these properties!!
These are my replies!
Monday at 13:16 from the Junior School
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your email, i have forwarded to Senior leadership team.
Kind regards,
Admin Team
Tuesday 30th at 14:50
Good afternoon Sarah
I am sorry to read of the problems you and your neighbours have been experiencing with children being picked up from Orchardlea School. It is a problem in many areas where schools are within a residential area, although I am extremely concerned regarding the engines left running for such long periods.
I hadn’t replied sooner and I was hoping to hear that the school was taking some responsibility. However, I have forwarded your email to your local Councillor, Fred Birkett as I am not your Borough Councillor, and suggested he request the Neighbourhood Police to visit the area at the appropriate time, when hopefully those drivers responsible would be reprimanded. This action has certainly worked in other area.
I hope this is helpful.
Please note the one from the councillor who is "extremely concerned regarding the engines left running for such long periods."
As yet (Sunday 4th Feb) there has been NOTHING from the Infant School, or the other councillor (the one I should have emailed) and NEITHER of the two replies I did receive even had the courtesy to ask if my Mum was ok. What a foul, fucked up, selfish, thoughtless and ignorant world we are living in!
I wonder if they would be so complacent if my Mum had been injured, or a child run over and killed!
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