Frances Bardsley Academy, Romford 'dangerous parking' concerns

Arun Joseph, who lives in Glades Close, told the Recorder that parents of The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls (FBA) pupils "fully block" the pavements around his house with their vehicles when they drop off and pick up their children from school.

The father-of-two said he and his wife have often been forced to push their one-year-old daughter's pram into the road at school pick-up time due to the pavements being completely blocked by cars.

Arun said that parents frequently block the entire pavement when they park up to drop their children at school (Image: Jane Keane) At times, he claims that he has been unable to get out of his close as drivers block the entrance - and he has been "shouted at and sworn at" when he asks parents to move their cars.

Arun said he has to deal with this "horrendous" behaviour twice daily, when trying to do his own school run with his ten-year-old son. 

The 44-year-old told the Recorder: "We've lived here for three years now and it's been going on for as long as we've been here.

Arun and his wife often struggle to do their own school run as the pavement is partially or fully blocked by vehicles (Image: Arun Joseph) "It's awful - we are shouted at regularly, our driveway gets blocked, our gates get blocked.

"If there was an emergency vehicle who needed to get down the road, they would not be able to get here."

Arun explained that on one side of his road people can park legally with a residents' permit, but on the other side there is no space for parking - so parents "literally park on the pavement itself".

He said: "This means that not only can pedestrians not use it [the pavement], but disabled folk can't use it."

On one side is residents' permits, but Arun says parents park opposite blocking the pavement and making it difficult for residents to leave their close (Image: Arun Joseph) Arun has taken his concerns to Havering Council and, along with Councillor Jane Keane, is calling on the council to implement "even more robust traffic enforcement" by traffic wardens in the area.

Cllr Keane, who represents the St Alban's ward, is also worried that the driving of a "minority of parents" will eventually put the pupils of the academy in danger.

One solution to this to introduce another school street scheme in the area, which introduces traffic restrictions. But Cllr Keane said she is "reluctant" to go down this route.

Councillor Jane Keane said drivers' 'dangerous' manoeuvres are putting schoolgirls at risk (Image: Jane Keane) She said: "The residents and I do not want to tell parents what they must do and where they can drive.

"However, unless parents who park in an appallingly self-entitled and dangerous way are deterred from doing so, we can see no choice but to call for another school streets scheme in this area because sooner or later a girl, or girls using Frances Bardsley school […] will be seriously or fatally hurt as a direct result of that behaviour."

The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls said they are putting up a banner by the school entrance "to serve as a constant visual reminder to park safely and be considerate of local residents".

David Turrell, the academy's executive headteacher, told the Recorder: "We are fully aware of the issues regarding parking close to the school and have proactively tried to support with this matter.

"During the last academic year, I met with Councillor Keane to discuss how we could help.

"We regularly write to parents regarding this and we have already sent a letter at the start of term."

Sometimes drivers block Arun's driveway and the entrance to his house (Image: Arun Joseph)

Mr Turrell added that one of the senior team at FBA wrote to Havering Council's traffic and parking control department before the start of term to request "further support".

A Havering Council spokesperson said its enforcement officers are already patrolling outside of the school as part of an "enforcement rota".

They said: "Drivers often drive away before a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) can be served.

"We will however, continue patrols and take the strongest action and issue a PCN if we think a vehicle is parked dangerously."

They added that the council, along with the school, encourages parents and guardians to "follow all parking regulations and park safely at all times".