Latest news with #schoolrun
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Cartoon 'buddies' tackling Cornwall school parking issues
A scheme in Cornwall is aiming to tackle congestion and safety issues during the school coloured cartoon "Parking Buddies" signs have been placed outside primary schools in the county to stop motorists pulling up and stopping at the Council said the signs had been loaned out to schools for either a term or until the end of the academic year as part of a trial in a bid to encourage "behavioural change" from Williams, head teacher at Trenance Learning Academy, in Newquay - which is one of the schools piloting the project - said the signs had worked well for them. Mr Williams said mornings were usually very busy outside the school but the buddies had made it "a much safer place".He added: "More pedestrians are using the crossing because they can see where traffic is coming from."Parents enjoy them, the children enjoy them and I enjoy them." Along with Trenance, the signs are currently outside Sandy Hill Academy in St Austell and Stithians Community Primary council said the signs had also been used previously at Lostwithiel School and St Mewan Rogerson, the council's cabinet member for transport, said the project had been able to reach multiple schools across the Lib Dem councillor said: "The cost implication is quite low and the lasting benefit that we have seen is that it really does effect driving behaviour."
Times
27-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Times
Why does summer bring out all the smug couples?
I love everything about summer, even the school run. Getting my daughter dressed and out of the house feels easier in the sunshine, and the walk past the duck pond to her primary school is positively bucolic. However, this summer — the first since the break-up of my marriage — the school run comes with a cost. I'm spotting smug couples everywhere. Morning sunshine seems to be a magnet for WFH couples to walk to school en famille then do something smug-coupley before starting their working day. The other morning I noticed one couple holding hands like maniacs as they dropped their child at the gates. Another couple breezed off for a walk around the woods, chatting away, while a few minutes later, I spotted yet another couple grabbing a morning latte at the local posh café-hotel. 'Go away,' I thought to myself, like the summer Grinch, as I marched home on my own. • Read more expert advice on sex, relationships, dating and love My grudge isn't just confined to the school run. Suddenly smug marrieds are everywhere. It hits me without warning when a friend complains about her husband's 'irks': 'Oh he's in Waitrose again, he's cooking a roast for dinner. I keep telling him it's not roast weather now, but he insists.' Or when another friend drops into conversation that it's been their wedding anniversary. 'Super low-key, we didn't want to make a big fuss for 16 years, so we just went out for steak and chips.' Coupley things that have never irked me before now feel like someone is prodding me with a needle when I least expect it. I feel pangs of uncontrollable envy, and annoyance at my situation. Here I am, aged 47, living solo without my kids for half the week. The things that my friends consider normal, and I once did too, now seem far away and fantastical. I'd love someone else in my house to be doing the shopping, especially fronting a trip to the supermarket (I can no longer afford Waitrose). I'd love to be going out for a 'low-key' meal for two to celebrate my anniversary (steak and chips is my favourite). This week was my 20th wedding anniversary. In another lifetime we would have thrown a big party or have organised a holiday around it, but in reality, I've barely mentioned it. Twenty years! It's a biggie for sure and since we're not yet divorced, I feel it still counts. I also felt it was important to celebrate: it's a wonderful achievement to have three children and to have come this far. Mostly the marriage was happy, it's just the last — ooh — five years that have been a little rocky. Now we're living apart and emotions are still raw, however, it's been a tricky subject to navigate with myself let alone with my ex. But we did do something on the day. In the end, he made me lunch (burgers) at his new home and we rewatched the video from our Ibiza wedding from June 23, 2005, which I had finally had digitised from the DVDs. It had dated! It was beautiful! It brought on some tears, at how young and happy — and yes, smug — we once were too. • No, we single women are not desperate for a partner My ex and I got together when I was 23, so I've existed my entire adult life as a couple, doing all the things that couples in love do. We've held hands like maniacs, grabbed morning coffee together, gone off on walks and weekends away, hosted dinner parties that showcase all the things that I now regard as 'smug' when other couples get up to them. The things that irk me now are the things I used to do quite naturally. I used to be the woman joking about my husband's niche trips to the supermarket or nonchalantly talking about my anniversary plans. I wonder how many people I accidentally annoyed by my smug coupledom in the process …@mollyjanegunn
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Five tickets given to drivers parked dangerously at school pick up time
Five tickets were given to drivers parked dangerously at a borough school during pickup time. Officers said that they get "regular complaints" from schools, residents and local councillors about parking at drop off and pick up times. They said that despite efforts from schools to encourage parents to park responsibly on the school run - they are still getting complaints. Police went on foot patrol on Central Drive around Sacred Heart Primary School in Westhoughton on Tuesday - where five tickets were issued. They said that parking on the road to pick up and drop off kids from the school is a "particular issue" in the village. Officers urged parents to remember to park responsibly and be considerate to local residents. Have a story? Get in touch at A spokesperson for Bolton Police said: "The Westhoughton Neighbourhood Team get regular complaints from schools, residents and local councillors about parking at drop off and pick up times. "Efforts have been made previously by schools and local officers to encourage people to park responsibly when doing the school run but we are still receiving complaints. "Central Drive around Sacred Heart Primary School is a particular issue in Westhoughton. Officers said parking outside the school is a particular issue in Westhoughton (Image: GMP) READ MORE: Bolton School parking issues lead to call for double yellow lines READ MORE: Bowness Primary School locals 'struggle' to get home READ MORE: Hardy Mill Primary School parents blamed for inconsiderate parking "Yesterday (June 24), PC Thomson was out on foot patrol around Central Drive and issued 5 tickets for vehicles that were parked dangerously at pick up time. "When dropping off and collecting your child from any school please remember; "parking on the yellow zig zags is prohibited, "don't park on a drop kerb, "park at least 10 meters away from any junction to allow good visibility to other road users, "be considerate to local residents and don't obstruct residents driveways."
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'I was disheartened to hear the rancour of local residents'
I READ your article regarding car parking on Spetchley Road. I am a resident on the Spetchley estate and I was disheartened to hear the rancour of local residents. Whatever happened to living in community with one another and understanding other people's needs? Doubtless the same people who are complaining drive their cars and park in places which inconvenience or annoy others. More: Meet the woman who creates dazzling window displays in city More: Pictures: All the business award winners from two counties More: Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Worcester theatre Councillor Elaine Willmore, in her letter to residents, very helpfully outlined the powers that they have and things that the council could and couldn't do. I am not saying that there is not a problem at school run times and there are safety concerns. However, there are more important things in the world than someone parking across my drive for 10 minutes to pick up their children. Yes, we should encourage walking to school as an option but we are in a car culture. So, complaining neighbours, try walking a mile in other people's shoes. See the stress that they may be under with work and school and all the other things life throws at us. And maybe do yourself some good, especially your blood pressure, by not sweating the small stuff. Rev David Southall Worcester
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'My late wife's hearse was blocked by idiot's bad parking' in nightmare road
A widower has described how his late wife's hearse could not get through a busy road and had to reverse because of bad parking. Angry residents in Spetchley Road in Worcester have slammed 'bullying' parents for blocking their driveways and verbally abusing them during the school-run. Cllr Elaine Willmore, a Labour city councillor for Nunnery, has been speaking to people about their concerns and pushing for Worcestershire County Council to find a solution. CONGESTED: Spetchley Road in Worcester where one man says his wife's hearse got stuck (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS) Resident Michael Harding, 79, said the hearse carrying his late wife was forced to reverse down the street after being blocked by double-parked cars. He said: 'My wife had terminal cancer for two years and she sadly died in April this year. 'The hearse picked her up from the family home. It got around the corner but it couldn't get through as some idiot was parked on double yellow lines. 'We had to turn back, it made us late for the service. Both cars had to reverse back down the road and turn around. 'He was parked on double yellow lines on a bend with another car parked across from it. Sometimes I cannot get my car off the drive, they park way over the drive. SIGN: A sign from a resident in Spetchley Road in Worcester (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS) 'I virtually have to park onto my neighbour's drive to get off, fortunately he's kind enough to let me. 'As well as the school-run parents it's the students leaving their cars on the road all day while they are at college. 'If you say anything to them, they swear at you. The language is foul, you get some really horrible responses. 'It's really everyone who is suffering here, it's not just me. They park across drives. You try to drive up Spetchley Road at 3pm and it's dangerous. We've had enough.' Arguments have broken out and signs erected begging parents to leave their cars elsewhere during the morning and afternoon rush. RECOMMENDED READING: 'Brazen parents park on our driveways - and some give us death stares' RECOMMENDED READING: Moment bungling burglar realises he is caught on camera before stealing laptops Retired Royal Navy engineer Royston Roberts, 82, said: 'People have parked on my drive which is never a good scenario. 'You can ask them to move but it's a civil matter. The police can't do anything. 'The problem for us is that I can't get access to the highway or get in or out of home a lot of the time. It's tight, too. It can be very inconvenient." Mr Roberts, who has lived on the street with his wife Maureen since 1983, said a suitable parking solution lies just 100 yards across the road in the form of the disused County Hall space. He added: 'The County Hall has a huge car park 100 yards away. There's no resolution - zigzag lines and warning people doesn't work. "If someone has arrived late, they'll park their car halfway across the drive. They'll dump their cars, but it's on both sides of the road – it's chaos.' A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: 'We would need to consider the wider effects of adding more restrictions. 'As with all traffic management measures, parking restrictions involve a balance of benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to approach any change with this in mind.'
