RESIDENTS have spoken of their frustration at seeing “chaos” return to their street not long after a council reopened a school’s drop off zone to counter congestion during the school run.
Only this week, Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) reopened the drop-off zone at Brynmenyn Primary School in Ynysawdre for approved users only.
The decision came after weeks of mounting tensions between residents and parents due to an increased use of the street adjacent to the school – Lon Derw – during the school run after the drop-off zone was closed due to safety reasons in December.
Residents on Lon Derw said parents are continuing to use their cul de sac – and block driveways in some cases – and the nearby Ty Ynysawdre care home car park.
Lon Derw resident, Mal Harris said his main concern was someone potentially getting hurt due to the amount of traffic on the street.
He said:
“I saw a lady on the zebra crossing and [a driver] just saw her at the last minute [to] brake. She was very close to being knocked over.
“It is all well and good the council having this drop off [zone] but it is no good if it is only for a select amount of people.
“You have got to have people in place [at the drop-off zone] to make it work. People are still coming into our cul de sac to park.
“It was mayhem.”
Additional measures have been put in place at the Brynmenyn Primary School drop-off zone.
These include the drop off zone being ‘locked down’ at the start and the end of the school day to restrict the exit of vehicles until it is safe to do so and additional restrictions on site, like speed cushions, the introduction of a 5mph speed limit on school grounds, and a ban on reversing.
Council officers will also be on site advising parents where to park.
Parents wishing to become an approved user will need to complete an application process, which will be communicated to parents and carers separately by the school.
BCBC and Brynmenyn Primary School have been contacted to specify what the eligibility criteria for becoming an approved user is.
Mr Harris added:
“People are parking with no consideration for anyone but themselves.
“You have got people with high vis jackets by the gates watching this chaos unfolding and no one is taking control of the situation.
“The neighbours are starting to get fed up again. My main concern is that someone is someone getting hurt.”
Councillor for Ynysawdre, Tim Thomas, said he would like to see Lon Derw and, “where necessary”, other adjacent streets be made accessible for residents only.
He said:
“I am extremely concerned to continue to receive correspondence from residents especially those living on Lon Derw with photos and videos of examples of poor driving behaviour.
“I agree with the recent quote from the Cabinet Member for Education that the safety of children should be paramount.
“However, this should extend to the children living on streets near schools such as Lon Derw.
However, the drop-off site at Pencoed Primary will continue to remain restricted at the start and end of the school day.
One resident living on Cae’r Eifal near Pencoed Primary who wished to remain anonymous said: “My wife and I live in Caer Efail, Pencoed which is a quiet twenty six property cul-de-sac with easy access to a rear entrance of the school.
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