‘Intrusive’ parking patrols photographing children and issuing £100 penalties drive Avanti Grange parents to distraction
Parents have been driven to distraction by parking restrictions outside a Bishop’s Stortford secondary school which have left them facing fines simply for queuing.
This week, after a crisis meeting, the patrols outside Avanti Grange School were stood down, but the road row rage continues.
The £100 penalties were introduced on Newland Avenue, part of the Bishop’s Stortford North development, by Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd, acting on behalf of the Bishop’s Stortford North Consortium.
In June, a spokeswoman for the builders said the restrictions were a safety measure prompted by an accident, and blamed parents queuing to pull into the school site for blocking one side of Newland Avenue.
Like roads at Stortford Fields and St Michael’s Hurst, it remains private property and unadopted by highways authority Hertfordshire County Council (HCC). Access onto Rye Street and onto a roundabout off the A120, which would ease congestion, have yet to be completed.
There has been a rash of complaints in the last month about how the restrictions on the only route to the school are being enforced.
Parents told the Indie that Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd operatives have been patrolling the area and photographing their vehicles while they were stuck in a traffic jam or held up by construction traffic at the estate. They have subsequently been fined for breaching the “No Stopping” rules.
Drivers have accused the wardens of being “invasive” by taking pictures of children in the course of patrols. One mum alleged that construction workers were also intimidating.
A meeting on Monday, brokered by East Herts district councillor Sarah Copley, a Liberal Democrat member for Stortford North, attempted to defuse the stand-off. At its conclusion, she told parents that the parking company had been stood down “for now”.
Instead, Avanti Grange would adjust the opening times of the school gates to try to ease congestion, she said, and parents would be asked to ensure that buses and other vehicles can move freely.
Cllr Copley said: “The developers will look at whether it is achievable to safely isolate another route from the construction traffic so there is an additional route in. Even if this is possible it may take some time.”
Meanwhile, the consortium and HCC continue to work on the new roundabout. The possibility of more buses is being explored.
Cllr Copley said: “We will look at which of the new footpaths/greenways are outstanding and the steps which need to be taken to deliver these.”
However, families still have outstanding fines.
Avanti Grange head Rhys Jones said: “The school’s position has not changed: we feel the fines are completely inappropriate and unfair.
“We have continued to raise our concerns with the consortium and county council. We have asked numerous times for further road, cycle and pedestrian access to be opened, especially to Rye Street. This has not materialised.
“We share our parents’ concerns and frustrations, and continue to lobby for improvements to the transport infrastructure to Avanti Grange on their behalf.”
Parents have contacted the Indie, adamant that they have been unfairly penalised, and are appealing against the fines.
Jackie and Matthew Drake said it was “frankly a joke and unacceptable” that they were fined on the school run.
In their appeal, they told the parking company: “There was no parking: the engine was on and the driver was present.
“Parents and others are being penalised for being responsible parents in taking and collecting young children from school.
“You seek to impose fines when the cars cannot go anywhere else. None of these cars are parked. They are stuck in a queue – as if at a level crossing, a traffic light or on a motorway delayed by accident or congestion.
“Would you seek to fine cars in such situations? Of course not. The builders regularly block the road and cause congestion.”
The Drakes warned that taking pictures was intrusive and unwarranted – and a possible safeguarding issue which could affect vulnerable youngsters.
Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd told the couple that their staff could park in restricted areas and choose not to wear a uniform for “safety”.
Sadie Minton was picking up her older children and was horrified when she believed pictures were being taken of her seven-year-old daughter Beatrice, who attends Little Hadham primary.
The youngster has had two open heart surgeries and is a patient of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Beatrice has written her own letter of complaint about being filmed.
Mrs Minton also said three construction workers shouted at them, and she accused both the builders and enforcement officers of bullying.
Mick Sims told the parking company he was driving with a four-year-old when they were photographed.
He said: “This is invasive and bordering on criminal behaviour. It has been reported to the police. This is a huge safeguarding issue.
“There are children at the school who seek anonymity for various reasons, including adoption, and yet you take photographs with impunity. This causes distress and real danger to these children.
“There are children at the school with real issues such as autism. Your actions have reversed progress they have made and are causing real distress to vulnerable children. This affects mental health.”
STATEMENT by PARKING CONTROL MANAGEMENT (UK) LTD
“This is a strictly ‘No Stopping’ roadway that has long suffered parking abuse from motorists waiting to collect from the school, in turn causing severe congestion, despite several prior interventions.
“We have been instructed by the landowner to now implement these regulations in the interests of safety and to ensure the roadway is kept clear of such congestion.
“This is clearly signposted, and drivers will only be subject to parking charges should they be parked otherwise than in the ordinary course of traffic.
“These policies fully comply with the Private Parking Sector Single Code of Practice.
“When parking on private land, we would urge motorists to read signage, be respectful and park in accordance with the terms and conditions.
“Anyone receiving a parking charge may appeal. We encourage anyone who feels their charge has been issued unfairly to appeal by following the process which gives access to an independent adjudicator, where initial representations are rejected.”
The Indie has asked the company if it will allow the parents’ appeals and cancel their fines.
