Topic ID 5501
My daughter usually travels to and from Presdales by bus but for the last two days I have picked her up because of the amount of stuff she had to bring home. Now, a couple of things to consider - 1) a while back there was a clampdown on the parking around the school with lots of restrictions put into place. 2) The gate into the school is closed to all traffic other than buses, until the last bus has gone. So, upon my arrival at the school these last two days there is chaos as parents try to collect their girls but with nowhere legally to stop. And who'd have thought it? On both occasions there was a traffic warden standing there waiting to pounce. The expression 'shooting fish in a barrel' comes to mind.
Reply ID 76691
Or they could be trying to discourage driving to the school and/or parking outside it for reasons of safety or to encourage more environmentally friendly modes of transport........ NAAHHHHHHH!
Reply ID 76692
or maybe they are fed up of dangerous traffic and hundreds of children in the same place at the same time.
Reply ID 76693
If you are not already a council spin doctor you really ought to apply [;)]
Reply ID 76694
It actually amazes me how much 'stuff' these kids have to bring home. I hate going to work during the school-run, particularly when the weather turns bad and the poor little urchins can't get wet but I remember walking with an absolutely bulging holdall in all weathers. Why, with this so called 'paperless society', are these children carrying so much 'stuff' forcing people like Leo to pick his daughter up rather than let her walk down the hill from Presdales and get the train home? Baffling stuff.
Reply ID 76697
quote:So you had lots of stuff when you were at school but it amazes you when kids do nowadays. Insightful stuff.
Originally posted by James007
It actually amazes me how much 'stuff' these kids have to bring home. I hate going to work during the school-run, particularly when the weather turns bad and the poor little urchins can't get wet but I remember walking with an absolutely bulging holdall in all weathers. Why, with this so called 'paperless society', are these children carrying so much 'stuff' forcing people like Leo to pick his daughter up rather than let her walk down the hill from Presdales and get the train home? Baffling stuff.
Reply ID 76698
quote:Err, it's called the internet. Computers. Email. Filing all school homework can be done on a computer, it doesn't need to be physically carried. See this [8] for no further information [:D]
Originally posted by aubendquote:So you had lots of stuff when you were at school but it amazes you when kids do nowadays. Insightful stuff.
Originally posted by James007
It actually amazes me how much 'stuff' these kids have to bring home. I hate going to work during the school-run, particularly when the weather turns bad and the poor little urchins can't get wet but I remember walking with an absolutely bulging holdall in all weathers. Why, with this so called 'paperless society', are these children carrying so much 'stuff' forcing people like Leo to pick his daughter up rather than let her walk down the hill from Presdales and get the train home? Baffling stuff.
Reply ID 76704
quote:If you manage to find a paperless cello let me know [:(]
Originally posted by James007 Why, with this so called 'paperless society', are these children carrying so much 'stuff' forcing people like Leo to pick his daughter up rather than let her walk down the hill from Presdales and get the train home? Baffling stuff.
Reply ID 76705
Leo - why can't the school store it?
Reply ID 76708
I went to Presdales and used to walk down the hill to get the bus to Hertford in all weathers in the late 1960's. Had no choice my Mum didn't drive and my Dad was at work, even then with much fewer cars on the road it was chaos up there so I hate to think what its like now they are all too fragile to walk. I seem to remember carrying bags, cookery all sorts of stuff and it didn't do me any harm..............even got wet sometimes! It is a tricky raod at the best of times and with the way people think they can park these days regardless or rules and seafety of others I would think a traffic warden is a good idea. They could do with one outside Bengeo School!
Reply ID 76709
This does not appear to be going well for Mr. Densian.
Reply ID 76710
If only councils took this kind of action more often. North Road is dreadful as mums park wherever thsy like and dart with children from between rows of abandoned vehicles, flinging doors open in front of moving traffic and blocking the pavement for those who are attempting to walk. I've brought up two families of children, neither of which required driving to school A cello, though bulky, is a light instrument and if cased, easy to carry.
Reply ID 76711
quote:Then perhaps you were lucky. The criteria for allocating school places means that places for Hertford schools are allocated to children in local villages and well beyond walking distance.
Originally posted by shunt
If only councils took this kind of action more often. North Road is dreadful as mums park wherever thsy like and dart with children from between rows of abandoned vehicles, flinging doors open in front of moving traffic and blocking the pavement for those who are attempting to walk. I've brought up two families of children, neither of which required driving to school A cello, though bulky, is a light instrument and if cased, easy to carry.
Reply ID 76714
I agree with Shunt about North Road, this has become very dangerous since this term started. Why can't parents park in Sele Farm and walk down the footpath? I am sure this was improved so that pupils and parents could do this.
Reply ID 76715
quote:True. I was 4 miles away. Walked or cycled every day
Originally posted by Ewoowarquote:Then perhaps you were lucky. The criteria for allocating school places means that places for Hertford schools are allocated to children in local villages and well beyond walking distance.
Originally posted by shunt
If only councils took this kind of action more often. North Road is dreadful as mums park wherever thsy like and dart with children from between rows of abandoned vehicles, flinging doors open in front of moving traffic and blocking the pavement for those who are attempting to walk. I've brought up two families of children, neither of which required driving to school A cello, though bulky, is a light instrument and if cased, easy to carry.
Reply ID 76716
when I were a lad I lived in a shoe box in the middle of t'road etc etc etc - thanks Monty Python God you lot - we no longer live in the 1970's - get a grip, modern life is all so different. Stop harking back to the past and accept that today's children are not like us and would we really expect them to be?
Reply ID 76718
quote:Ridiculous and obdurate comment! The children are the same. The schools are in the same area. Always have been.
Originally posted by Kitty Kat
when I were a lad I lived in a shoe box in the middle of t'road etc etc etc - thanks Monty Python God you lot - we no longer live in the 1970's - get a grip, modern life is all so different. Stop harking back to the past and accept that today's children are not like us and would we really expect them to be?
Reply ID 76724
quote:So we do but the roads are the same and there is no more parking round the schools being provided and if the stories are true the children of today need more exercise not less..........they still have the same legs and muscles as 40 years ago shame they use them less.
Originally posted by Kitty Kat
when I were a lad I lived in a shoe box in the middle of t'road etc etc etc - thanks Monty Python God you lot - we no longer live in the 1970's - get a grip, modern life is all so different. Stop harking back to the past and accept that today's children are not like us and would we really expect them to be?
Reply ID 76726
quote:Swallowed a dictionary have we?! You were crap at english at school - I remember it well. We had only 1 bag of stuff to carry as we left it all in our desks or lockers. Today's kids are not the same - life has moved on a lot since our school days. I can't expect my daughter to walk to school. I live 12 miles from the school she attends, as do many of the village based families
Originally posted by James007quote:Ridiculous and obdurate comment! The children are the same. The schools are in the same area. Always have been.
Originally posted by Kitty Kat
when I were a lad I lived in a shoe box in the middle of t'road etc etc etc - thanks Monty Python God you lot - we no longer live in the 1970's - get a grip, modern life is all so different. Stop harking back to the past and accept that today's children are not like us and would we really expect them to be?
Reply ID 76727
quote:The original point was a child that normally goes to school by bus, so does have the option of walking to the bus stop, not one who has no option than to be taken by car. What little car parking there is should be for those who have no option, maybe a badge sytemn for those for whom public transport or a school bus is not an option.
Today's kids are not the same - life has moved on a lot since our school days. I can't expect my daughter to walk to school. I live 12 miles from the school she attends, as do many of the village based families
Reply ID 76729
I am always amazed when I see school kids these days. So many of them are overweight.
Reply ID 76730
quote:Stange thing is you see them because they are walking.....not being driven to school [;)]
Originally posted by exiled_in_Reading
I am always amazed when I see school kids these days. So many of them are overweight.
Reply ID 76733
quote:12 miles is too far, but that's because you've chosen a private school out of walking distance. As for carrying things, modern children do not have the heavy reference books that I lugged backwards and fowards, but often access their homework online. My maths book was the size of a telephone directory and that was just one of five needed every day. They do have lockers now. We had to carry everything with us all day, to and from school and between classrooms. There is no change to the amount of Rugby/PE/swimming/musical paraphenalia required.
Originally posted by Kitty Katquote:Swallowed a dictionary have we?! You were crap at english at school - I remember it well. We had only 1 bag of stuff to carry as we left it all in our desks or lockers. Today's kids are not the same - life has moved on a lot since our school days. I can't expect my daughter to walk to school. I live 12 miles from the school she attends, as do many of the village based families
Originally posted by James007quote:Ridiculous and obdurate comment! The children are the same. The schools are in the same area. Always have been.
Originally posted by Kitty Kat
when I were a lad I lived in a shoe box in the middle of t'road etc etc etc - thanks Monty Python God you lot - we no longer live in the 1970's - get a grip, modern life is all so different. Stop harking back to the past and accept that today's children are not like us and would we really expect them to be?
Reply ID 76735
Sorry - I think I must have nodded off there while we drifted into the usual holier than thou diatribe about overweight kids, why can't they get the bus, not like in our day blah blah blah. I get the message. My original point though was more to do with the 'sledgehammer to crack a nut' mentality that decrees imposing a blanket parking ban will make the cars all go away. It won't, and anyone with half a brain would realise that. What you end up instead is the crazy situation I witnessed (and reluctantly had to be part of) whereby you park on a yellow line waiting for your child and if you see the grey flat-hatted guy coming your way you drive off down a neighbouring road for 100 yds, do a 3-point turn around and then come back and park up again. There's also this strange paradox that cars parked (presumeably for the rugby club and no doubt local residents) that I witnessed there today are viewed as causing less of an obstruction because its a Sunday and therefore no parking restrictions - despite them being parked up for far longer than the 20 mins period around 4pm on a weekday. But never mind - we'll just blame it on the fat kids instead. [V]
Reply ID 76737
I believe that the schools themselves ask for a traffic warden to be present at the schools when the ammount of cars stopping and waiting illegally,becomes a danger to the pupils and to the general road user.Surely parents can park up away from the school and then walk and meet their children at the gates.
Reply ID 76738
If your child has a lot to carry and is unable to walk a few hundred yards to where you have safely parked up and you are unable to help them carry their burden, why not arrange to collect your child from school 15 minutes later after the rush has gone and the buses with it? Then you may enter the school grounds safely and without causing any obstruction on the road. It also avoids playing tag with the parking attendants - do grown-ups really play this game? I feel like taking a walk just to watch this. Monty Python indeed. As for Sundays, I think you will find that the parking along Hoe Lane has more to do with Sunday league football at the sports fields down Walnut Tree Walk. Hertford Rugby Club play matches on a Saturday.
Reply ID 76739
quote:I stand corrected.
Originally posted by Woody As for Sundays, I think you will find that the parking along Hoe Lane has more to do with Sunday league football at the sports fields down Walnut Tree Walk. Hertford Rugby Club play matches on a Saturday.
quote:I doubt it - the restrictions were imposed by the Highways Authority after 'consultation' with the local community, no doubt most of whom are predated by the school. I would not move to a house adjacent to a school and not expect traffic issues at the start and finish of the day.
Originally posted by dutch knight I believe that the schools themselves ask for a traffic warden to be present at the schools when the ammount of cars stopping and waiting illegally,becomes a danger to the pupils and to the general road user.
Reply ID 76740
Hoe Lane is busy on a Sunday, no doubt, and lots of that parking is for the rugby club. There are about three hundred children there from 10 until about 1, sometimes later if there is a game. Today there were teams from Welwyn and Finchley playing, so at least another 30 cars to add to regular hundreds. There was an application made to the council for the entrance and exit of the club to be made a one way system, as there is access to the ground from a small road/pathway which would have been improved to take traffic. Local residents objected and the plan was halted.
Reply ID 76743
Leo - my turn to stand. [;)]
Reply ID 76750
quote:Should have chosen the violin, or triangle.. much easier to carry.
Originally posted by Leo Densianquote:If you manage to find a paperless cello let me know [:(]
Originally posted by James007 Why, with this so called 'paperless society', are these children carrying so much 'stuff' forcing people like Leo to pick his daughter up rather than let her walk down the hill from Presdales and get the train home? Baffling stuff.
Reply ID 76751
Two children to drop off at different schools this morning. - aged 12 and 8. Contents of the boot were as follows - One junior book bag One senior book bag - approximate weight = three tons One Fench Horn about half the body weight of the child with awkward triangular dimensions One trumpet One senior music bag One junior music bag One bag of football boots One sports holdall with football equipment and drinks in it (Fortunately today is not a rugby or swimming day !) [:0]
Reply ID 76752
I lived in one of the outlying villages and when my son went up to Senior school, I researched my choices and one of the criteria was travelling to and from school. The local bus was perfect and had two times in the evening to cater for after school clubs. And then they stopped that route. He would have to catch the revised bus and change onto the trains but the times didn't match so could not get in on time. And in the evening meant waiting at a bus stop for 27 minutes (not long I grant you) but after he had to wait at the school for an hour and half. I took him to the station with me in the morning and then he would get the train and sit in my car for up to an hour waiting for me to come home home. Over the Summer holidays I moved house. I think children should start exploring their independence and start taking responsibility, especially at senior school but I have been criticised for this sometimes as society thinks I should be careful, he might be snatched (if he was, they would send him home soon enough, the food bills would send them broke!).