Parents have been banned from using a private car park after neighbours say they were ‘abused and garden walls damaged’ – and are now left to walk their children along a dangerous A-road.
Currently, parents of pupils at Wingham Primary School in Kent use the village hall car park when picking up and dropping off their children.
But this is soon to stop after residents have complained about being ‘verbally abused’ and the village hall committee has raised concerns over the ‘chaos’ the arrangement causes.
Some locals have even claimed their garden walls have been knocked over on several occasions.
Recently a newsletter to parents from the primary school notified them that from September they will no longer be able to drop off and pick up their children from the 28-space car park.
Mother-of-two Stacie Garside (pictured) has said closing the car park to parents will cause traffic mayhem and claims it will put pupils’ lives in peril if they have to make a hazardous walk along the busy A257
Currently, parents of pupils at Wingham Primary School in Kent use the village hall car park when picking up and dropping off their children
However parents say this will leave them no option but to walk their children along a busy and dangerous A-road – one side of which has no pavement.
Representatives of Wingham Village Hall have previously accused parents of abusing the rules at their private car park.
This resulted in bollards being installed in an effort to control the parking activity.
Committee members have also complained about nearby residents being unable to access their properties during the school run.
The long-running parking row prompted angry exchanges when village hall committee members and residents in yellow tabards recently tried to stop traffic and took photos of cars.
Last September it was claimed that all parties would try to thrash out a solution, but that has now culminated in the outright parking ban with no alternative.
Mother-of-two Stacie Garside has said closing the car park to parents will cause traffic mayhem and claims it will put pupils’ lives in peril if they have to make a hazardous walk along the busy A257.
‘The greatest issue here is the safety of young children and I’m appealing to the village hall to show some community spirit and human kindness,’ she said.
‘There are no other safe routes for children and this will put their lives at risk.’
Recently a newsletter to parents from the primary school notified them that from September they will no longer be able to drop off and pick up their children from the 28-space car park
Residents have complained about being ‘verbally abused’ and the village hall committee has raised concerns over the ‘chaos’ the arrangement causes
The school newsletter announcing the ban told parents: ‘We have been informed by the village hall [that], ‘As from September, we will be making changes to the layout of the village hall’s private car park to ease congestion for all hall users’.
‘Therefore, from September you will no longer be able to use the car park and will need to park elsewhere.
‘While we know the vast majority of families have been considerate to the local community’s requests, the changes that have been made have not been enough for the car park to remain in use by the Wingham school community.
‘In the meantime, please do not park in the car park before 2.50pm or smoke within its vicinity. It is private property.’
Local residents have also complained about parking at the village hall in the past.
One of the residents, Jackie Kelly, says that though they were not consulted over the parking ban and have not influenced the village hall committee’s decision, the village hall car park was not for the use of schoolchildren’s parents.
Writing on the village’s Facebook page, she said: ‘We have lived in School Lane for 17 years and received verbal abuse, people parking on our drive and our wall has been knocked over twice.
‘Residents appreciate that children need to be dropped off safely but this is a matter for the school and the council.
Local residents have also complained about parking at the village hall in the past
‘The bottom line is the village hall car park is for their users, not the school.’
But mother Shan Cole branded the ban ‘absolutely disgusting’.
‘No zebra crossings, no paths to use,’ she wrote.
‘So expect late drop-offs and collections then.
‘Wingham school seriously needs to address this and organise a drop off/collection.
‘I don’t want to be putting my children into their car seats on the side of a very busy road.’
Village Hall committee treasurer Ken Matthews said he would be issuing a statement in the near future.
MailOnline approached Wingham Village Hall, Wingham Primary School and Kent County Council for comment.