Traffic on the Baildon school run 'is ruling our lives’

11:00am Monday 26th November 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Chris Young, T&A Reporter

Marjorie Hall at Bartle Gill Drive, Baildon, which is getting blocked by drivers Marjorie Hall at Bartle Gill Drive, Baildon, which is getting blocked by drivers

Inconsiderate parking by parents dropping their children off at a Baildon primary school “rules the lives” of neighbouring homeowners, according to a resident.

Earlier this month, Bradford Council was handed a petition signed by 52 people who live near Baildon C of E school asking for traffic management around the Bartle Gill Drive area to prevent the road becoming clogged with cars during the school run.

Last Wednesday evening the petition went before the Council’s Shipley Area Committee. They decided to investigate the situation but because of its workload this will not happen until April at the earliest.

Simon D’Vali, principal highways engineer for the Shipley area, admitted it was a problem, but said: “We need to do a lot of work to figure out what we can do. It should be investigated at the very least.”

The school has recently stopped parents driving on to school property for safety reasons and residents say traffic on their roads has got worse since.

Councillor Debbie Davies said children could be encouraged to use school buses to cut down on cars entering the road.

David Heseltine, chairing the meeting, said: “We can’t cajole schools into doing things they don’t want to do. It does frustrate us that schools do things and everyone else has to pick up the pieces.

“It won’t be a quick solution.”

Marjorie Hall, of Bartle Gill Drive, was one of the residents behind the petition, and she attended Wednesday’s meeting.

She said: “The Council listened and it seems they intend to do something about it, but unfortunately they can’t do anything about it until April. I think something will be done – as to what I don’t know. We would prefer it if school traffic didn’t come down here at all.

“If parents were a bit more sensible when they were parking and a bit more sensitive to residents it might not have come to this.

“Some park on corners or park on the pavement. It rules my life. If I’m out I have to try and get home for three. If I’m not I’ll go for a coffee somewhere until the traffic is gone.”

Headteacher Michael Curtain was not available for comment.

l Bradford Council is to hold further discussions with Bingley residents and Myrtle Park School over a contentious proposal to prevent cars parking on Sycamore Avenue by painting “School Keep Clear” road markings.

Comments(18)

Storck says...
12:32pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Looks just like the mess in the other story regarding Grove House School on Myers Lane.

Personally I blame the council as they did not plan for the increase in traffic when they reorganised the schools.

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tinytoonster says...
12:35pm Mon 26 Nov 12

probably parents taking kids to school before WORK get over it and stop being petty. 52 people? hardly a large amount.
if you don't like it move!

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Bone_idle18 says...
12:40pm Mon 26 Nov 12

The main problem with all schools are parents who or too disorganised to get to school in time to park sensibly and walk a short distance from the car. I find it's the last minute arriver's who tend to leave their car anywhere. Generally blocking roads just as the other, sensible, parents are trying to leave.

At the end of the day it's only twice a day, and not even all year, so it's not a massive inconvenience to be fair.

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Another Landless Peasant says...
12:42pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Let the little blighters WALK or CYCLE to school like I did !

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Bone_idle18 says...
12:59pm Mon 26 Nov 12

I'm sure a lot of kids do walk or cycle, but as it's a primary, kids under 8 need to be accompanied by an adult. That means probably over half the school fit into that bracket.

I'm sure residents can work round it. what is the disruption? 20-25mins in the morning and the same mid afternoon (when most people are working anyway?)

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RollandSmoke says...
1:22pm Mon 26 Nov 12

What time do the traffic fumes that these parents have dumped their kids in clear?

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Dragon Saddle says...
1:52pm Mon 26 Nov 12

I wonder if Councillor Davies follows her own advise?

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webess says...
2:12pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Traffic on the Baildon school run 'is ruling our lives’

A bit of an overstatement maybe?

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Crookshanks says...
2:25pm Mon 26 Nov 12

It's probably not possible for most working parents to walk with their children to school and still be in work for office hours, so suggesting that it's either laziness or disorganisation seems a bit unfair.

My journey from the top of Baildon to Bradford City Centre takes me 45 minutes at term time and less than 15 minutes during the school holidays.

The answer? American style yellow school buses to take the kids to school!

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Albion. says...
2:54pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Crookshanks wrote:
It's probably not possible for most working parents to walk with their children to school and still be in work for office hours, so suggesting that it's either laziness or disorganisation seems a bit unfair.

My journey from the top of Baildon to Bradford City Centre takes me 45 minutes at term time and less than 15 minutes during the school holidays.

The answer? American style yellow school buses to take the kids to school!
There are already quite a few such buses, but often the kids still arrive by car.

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JRT says...
3:02pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Hmm,
car drivers moaning about other car drivers,
not really news is it?

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Shelfrhino says...
3:08pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Another Landless Peasant wrote:
Let the little blighters WALK or CYCLE to school like I did !
Maybe you did, but other families work for a living, therefore having the money to buy a car. Why shouldn't they use it for what they see fit?
It's a free country, despite Labour trying otherwise.
Some people just moan because they've got nothing better to do.

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Citytilidie says...
6:34pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Its a joke for parking at the school there's a big carpark that never opens for parents load of field space which could be used as an overflow aswell but I'm sorry Marjorie but what can we do we all have to pick our kids up don't let it ruin your life and I hope your not stood in the middle of the road on Friday I like parking down there if I get there early enough u might get in the way,I'll have a word with Mr Curtain and tell him to pull himself together! Lol

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cockadoodledo says...
7:14pm Mon 26 Nov 12

I seem to think the school has been in that location for years and years., why didnt you think that there might be a problem when you moved there?
Sounds like you have plenty of time on your hands, if you can be thinking where to go for coffee at that time of day. best idea is just move!!

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WhenIWereALad says...
7:51pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Citytilidie wrote:
Its a joke for parking at the school there's a big carpark that never opens for parents load of field space which could be used as an overflow aswell but I'm sorry Marjorie but what can we do we all have to pick our kids up don't let it ruin your life and I hope your not stood in the middle of the road on Friday I like parking down there if I get there early enough u might get in the way,I'll have a word with Mr Curtain and tell him to pull himself together! Lol
Being there early enough being the biggest problem. The afternoon rush gets longer and longer by people competing for space. As for what can you do? Try having respect for the fact you are parking on a residential cul-de-sac by turning off your engine, turning the radio off, not blocking drives, not parking on footpaths... Just for a start! LOL!!!!!!!

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the Laird says...
9:48pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Sounds like the school have caused this problem by not letting parents use the large car park. no doubt some elf & safety numpty at the school convincing the Head it was suddenly far too dangerous to use a car park for parking puproses!

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Mrs McRanty says...
9:03am Tue 27 Nov 12

The solution is obviously to move! The age old answer given by people too ignorant to take some personal responsibility! Most residents accept living by a school means some parking inconvenience at certain times of the day! Most would not ( and shouldn't have to accept) being blocked in their own drives, being unable to walk on a pavement because a car is parked their, or people using their driveways as turning points! Langley lane is more than long enough and wide enough for parents to park and walk to school! All most residents want is parents to be a little more thoughtful about where they abandon their cars!

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JohnnyBd says...
9:56am Tue 27 Nov 12

Dragon Saddle wrote:
I wonder if Councillor Davies follows her own advise?
I wonder when Dragon Saddle will learn to spell...

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