Father confronts parking warden for 'pretending to mingle' with parents before ticketing them outside Ebbsfleet Garden City school
11:00, 11 October 2019
updated: 13:25, 11 October 2019
A furious father has slammed a company for targeting parents by dishing out fines when they drop their children off for school.
Ian Pullen confronted a worker from Residential Management Group London (RMG) outside the Cherry Orchard Primary Academy in Ebbsfleet on Tuesday, who he claimed was hiding his ID and pretending to mingle with parents before ticketing their vehicles when they went to get their children.
An angry parent confronts a parking warden he claims was pretending to mingle in with parents before ticketing them
In a video posted on Twitter the Swanscombe resident can be heard challenging the warden outside the school on the new Ebbsfleet Garden City estate.
He said: "You're here at 9am to catch people out who are dropping children to school, because you know you're going to get a lot of money from parents who are here."
The warden, who seemed confused by the confrontation, replied "yes" before telling Mr Pullen not to talk to him as he is "just doing his job".
Mr Pullen, 43, then confronted the man again, claiming he was hiding his recording equipment and ID under a black zip-up jumper, which the warden denied.
Speaking to KentOnline, Mr Pullen said: "It feels like a trap to be honest. It's like they're waiting for parents to drop off their children and then ticket them, leaving them with a £60 fine.
"The wardens only seem to appear at the beginning of school and during pick-up times, when parents can't get into the car park. We're being punished for dropping our children at school."
The father-of-four admitted there was signs about parking, but they weren't very visible, before suggesting their should be some leniency for parents during the busy pick-up/drop off period.
"I confronted the warden when I saw him walking around in a black zip-up hoody with no children, which I thought was about unusual," Mr Pullen said.
"Then he started saying he was just doing his job and claimed his GoPro and ID were visible the whole time."
Mr Pullen, who has two children at the school, explained due to the increasing numbers at Cherry Orchard, parking had become a nightmare, with some parents double parking.
The land outside the school is owned and monitored by RMG and Henley Camland - a residential developer.
Sarah Fisher, senior property manager at RMG, said: "We have viewed the footage in question and the warden was operating within the guidelines of the parking regulations.
"The vehicles which were ticketed were contravening the parking regulations and by parking on the roadway they are making it dangerous for pedestrians and other road users. RMG and Henley Camland are working with the school to try and alleviate the parking problems."
A statement from Cherry Orchard Primary Academy explained they are aware of concerns with parking at the school and outside and despite having no control over matter, they hope the management companies "find a compromise that allows pupils to be taken to and collected from school in a safe and convenient manner".
Mr Pullen has since set up a petition online, with more than 100 signatures, to try and have parking restrictions near the school lifted.
