Golding Homes apologises for inconsiderate parking at Yalding Primary School
13:13, 23 October 2020
updated: 14:05, 23 October 2020
A housing association has apologised after one of its drivers left a van in a no-parking zone outside a school.
The vehicle belonging to Golding Homes was parked outside Yalding Primary School in Vicarage Road, and one parent said it put safety of children at risk by blocking their view of traffic.
Neil Jackson was picking his nine-year-old daughter Marianna up from the school when he saw the red-and-blue van left right by a sign explicitly warning motorists not to stop on that side of the narrow street on school days.
He said: "I went to get my daughter from school and he was parked on the lines. There are warnings there.
"I couldn't get through to Golding Homes to tell them, so I reported it by email, and the school complained as well, but we only got an email back. That was a week ago and we've had no response since.
"Had he moved for school pick-up time people would not have been that bothered, but coming out of the gates there you could not see left without stepping out into the road."
Mr Jackson explained that many older pupils at the school do walk to and from the Vicarage Road site unaccompanied, so it is important they can do so safely.
Yalding Primary School confirmed it was aware of the incident on October 14, and reiterated that all drivers should follow the restrictions in place outside the school.
Annemarie Roberts, director of operations for Golding Homes, said: "We would like to apologise to Yalding Primary School staff, parents and children who were inconvenienced by our vehicle parking in this zone.
"We will look into this urgently and speak with the relevant driver and I will be personally writing to the school.
"All our drivers are trained to drive and park considerately and we are sorry that this did not happen on this occasion."
