Bridgend residents left feeling 'trapped' over school run parking chaos

Bridgend residents say living on a residential estate next to two schools has left them feeling 'trapped' and 'mentally and physically drained' because parents are using their street as a car park. 

Residents in Lon Derw cul-de-sac say they have had enough of parents parking on the side of the road and 'blocking' their driveways when taking their children to and from Brynmenyn Primary School in Bridgend.

Mal Harris, a resident at Lon Derw, said he had been working with a local elected councillor to resolve the traffic issue on his street, which he claimed was an accident waiting to happen.

He said: “It’s been going on far too long. Residents are getting annoyed and we feel neglected by the council in every way. There’s no organisation at all when it comes to the safety of the children with the vehicles of the parents coming in.

“We’re trapped - if anything happens during school pick-up time and emergency services need to come in, they won’t be able to get in.”

Other residents also shared their experience of living on the 'nightmare' street, which they said was different from other areas with school parking issues, as Lon Derw only had one entrance and exit.

Another resident, who wished not to be named, said: “You get parents who look at you a certain way when you ask them to move, as they think that everyone who lives here is claiming sick or on benefits. They get very abusive and it’s not good for my mental state”.

She added: “I dread 2.30pm to 3.15pm as it’s a nightmare. Parents think they own the road, they block all our drives so we can’t get in and out. I hate it and all the people who look down on you. It makes me think, is it worth living here? Do I want to move?”

She also explained that she avoided leaving the house during this time, or left the house earlier than needed to avoid being trapped in by the cars.

Another resident, who wished not to be named, shared how she'd had to put traffic cones out every day to stop people parking on her drive. She said: “I don’t see why I should have to put these cones here five days a week just so people don’t park on my drive.”

She added that some parents had been arguing with her when she’d asked them not to park there, as they didn’t believe it was her drive. She also worries a child will get hurt by the constant cars driving in and out of the street.

A resident who has a disabled child said she felt like she was in a 'fish bowl' with parents' cars parked alongside her living room window. She also felt there was no privacy for residents.

She said: “In the beginning, I didn’t mind because I understood that people needed to park to pick up their children. But now it’s caused massive issues. My daughter has profound disabilities and with all the noise that’s going on, she’s distressed. It’s like Piccadilly Circus here with all the cars. When I moved here, I knew there would be a bit of traffic with the schools but it’s causing disturbance to our lives.”

In January, the tension between parents and residents reached boiling point after a 'barricade' was set up to stop parents from parking on the street during the school run. At the end of last year, Bridgend County Borough Council decided to close the school's drop-off zone for health and safety reasons.

The primary school's car park, where parents used to be allowed to pick up and drop off their children, is now only to be used by school staff, school buses, those dropping off children with additional learning needs, and blue-badge holders. The nearby car park for Coleg Cymunedol Y Dderwen has also been withdrawn as an option.

A Bridgend County Borough Council spokesperson said: “The school drop-off area was re-opened in February for approved users and continues to be monitored to ensure that the misuse which originally forced it to close does not reoccur".

Parents also think the parking situation is “ridiculous”. Ian Harford, from Bridgend, was one of many parents who parked his car in Lon Derw to pick up his child from school. He said that parking in Lon Derw had become 'awkward' with the residents as he knew they were frustrated with the situation.

He said: “I can see their frustration but I think they can see it from our point of view too - we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place as we have nowhere else to go. I wouldn’t drive if I didn’t need to”.

Adding: “We’ve been told there’s nothing the council or school can do, but this situation is crazy. It’s manic here with the buses and cars - it’s a scramble of who can park anywhere possible to be able to get their children into school and it’s like this every day. Usually I have to park on the yellow lines as there’s nowhere else to park. I would be annoyed if I lived in those flats and fuming if I was a resident here. It’s a new school so I don’t know how they don’t have parking to be able to drop off the children safely”.

A Bridgend County Borough Council spokesperson said: “When bringing children to and from school, parents and carers are encouraged to do so with consideration for residents and one another, and to ensure at all times that they do not put children at risk. The council’s parking enforcement team regularly visit the area to deter illegal parking, and any vehicle which obstructs the highway should be reported to South Wales Police”.

Independent Bridgend County Borough Councillor for Ynysawdre, Cllr Tim Thomas, said Bridgend Council was attending the site on Friday (October 14).

He said: “I have been asking BCBC for a considerable time for a site visit at Lon Derw and I am pleased they are finally meeting with me. During my discussions with the authority, I have made it abundantly clear that in terms of road safety in the cul-de-sac, the do-nothing option is not an option.

“While parking enforcement measures have been implemented on streets around Lon Derw, I have raised concerns that this could amplify the problem. Now that Lon Derw has been adopted by BCBC Highways, I have also asked them to consider innovative solutions to the problem including the use of CCTV technology.

“We need to find a solution that provides safety for all. Lon Derw and Heol Cae Glas residents have shown me photos and videos of several near misses and their safety is equally as important.

“I would like to remind everyone that the decision to close the drop-off points was that of Bridgend Council. Brynmenyn Primary did not make this decision and I would ask the public to be kind and considerate to all teaching staff who are doing additional duties in trying to keep children safe”.