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Liphook Infants & Juniors - a (7th Mar 2014 - 18:31:58) I know i chose to live near the schools, but it would appear that everyday/evening there is always something going on, I can never get in my drive or even park outside my house, I did go and say last night that i wasn't happy and so did someone else, don't object to normal school times, but it does appear to be getting more and more, not fair on the residents who have spent a lot of money buying their homes

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - S (7th Mar 2014 - 19:04:59) You're right. It's totally acceptable to have people doing activities in a school during school hours but to organise events at a publicly funded venue after 3.30pm is totally out of order. If children want to participate in after-school extra-curricular activities then they should do so away from school. Sports matches in March? Events for the whole family to enjoy? Who needs that? We seriously need to reevaluate the meaning and role of a school within our society. Providing education and meaning to any demographic of the community outside of office hours should not be a part of that.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Sharron (7th Mar 2014 - 19:26:38) Yes, and what wonderful, vibrant schools they are too. Good schooling doesn't' start and finish between 9 and 3, Monday to Friday. We are so lucky to have these schools at the heart of this community and with staff putting so much into the adults of the future. I'm guessing that unless you bought your house pre 1960's then it's no surprise that the school is there. They were there when you bought your house and they will be there long after you have moved on. Granted there are problems with the flow of traffic and parking at peak times and the school is trying to work with third parties to alleviate this problem where possible. But you still can't change the fact that the schools were there long before you!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - tony (7th Mar 2014 - 19:34:32) I've been thinking about this a bit. If I lived there, I'd be furious too, but actually I would have discounted buying there for that reason in the first place. Of course it's great that the schools are doing so many things, they're both really great schools. You must expect it at start and finish of school, but more and more the good schools are putting extra things on, like the pyjama story time yesterday. The parking is clearly becoming inadequate and needs addressing. One possible way would be to create parallel parking bays on The Avenue, you could get three times as many parking places there just by encroaching a short way onto the playing fields. Or go even further and create an an 'artificial grass' shared play/parking area on part of the fields, so it could be used as overflow parking at busy times, playing fields at other. It all depends how much those fields are used. Another way would be to do something similar on Longmoor Road and make parents walk up the alleyway. Just a few thoughts.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Chris (7th Mar 2014 - 19:39:38) Thank goodness that we have such good schools in Liphook with such committed staff and parents who care about investing in our future and our children! You can't blame the school for the way society has evolved and the traffic this creates. I've absolutely no doubt that you yourself add to the traffic in and around Liphook, so unless you are without a vehicle, then you are no less responsible than anyone else who lives in Liphook with a car and the traffic associated with it. I think that it shows remarkable dedication from everyone involved at the schools that all the effort it takes to have these opportunities for our children which should be supported and recognised not sniped at and moaned about. If you don't like the traffic near the school then don't live near the school! In fact you probably shouldn't be part of this vibrant community and should go and live on an island somewhere by yourself.... Without your vehicle and any school nearby.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Rachael (7th Mar 2014 - 19:50:08) As you said, you did choose to live near the school!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Kelly mildenhall (7th Mar 2014 - 21:12:59) I'm a parent that walks to school every day regardless of the weather. I would hate to live in and around the schools, the parking is horrendous, parents park any where. When the police are there they move them on but as soon as the police go they are back. I have over heard a group of parents talking about parking and one man stated that the home owners should expect people to park across there drive as they live near a school. To be honest the parents don't give a toss, just as long as they can park as close to the school as possible there happy.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - SC (8th Mar 2014 - 06:56:16) The real issue here is that too many parents choose to drive to school rather than walk. Any parents that live within a 30 min walk of the school should be walking. People who live near the schools should expect some disruption but this would be reduced if parents used their feet. At the same time walking helps to increase fitness and maintain a healthy weight. And if it's raining, use an umbrella.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - DH (8th Mar 2014 - 08:25:49) My property is opposite the school, with clearly marked signage expressing my wish for you not to park across the drive, not to mention the lowered kerb and painted lines (check your Highway Code!!) Now, whilst my property was here before the school, in fact, it was my family and another who originally sorted the road out many, many moons ago. It does get my goat when people park across my drive!! However, I do enjoy watching the horrendous driving, parking and speeding that comes with the rush hour!! It's a school, I understand that it's going to be busy, but also understand, parking across my drive means I'm going to be cross when I can't get out or into my property!! Rightly so I think!!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Marian (8th Mar 2014 - 10:39:39) We are surely lucky to have such good schools in our village where teachers are prepared to go give their out of school time in providing enjoyment for the children. How soul destroying for a teacher to read some of the negativity on this posting. Everyone with a car contributes to the traffic problem in Liphook - that is not the fault of the school.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Ian (8th Mar 2014 - 10:43:17) It seems there are two issues here. Firstly, residents of The Avenue (and I am one) need to appreciate that the school is an important and vibrant part of the community. As other contributors have pointed out the world has moved on and there will be events that fall out of "normal hours" For most residents, the school was here first so if you don't like it you can always move. The second issue is it is totally unacceptable and completely selfish to park across someone's drive, even if it is just of a "couple of moments". If you cannot park legitimately then is it really too much bother to park a little further away and walk. There really is no excuse for such complete lack of consideration. Maybe it would be appropriate to have a board at the school with pictures of the offending cars. Alternatively lets have a link on the school website for the same purpose!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Rob (8th Mar 2014 - 11:48:46) Regarding the off road parking on the school field, this has been muted so many times but the problem is that the trees are protected and HCC will not allow any traffic to go between or around them!! If the car drivers were more considerate of the driveways and avoided them and more importantly did not turn round into them when leaving it would help. There is a vacant car parking area at the beginning of The Avenue not used by the residents. so if the owners could be approached this would help. I believe it is Radian Housing. Lastly if parents are going to be sometime, like all morning etc. then they should park in the parking areas set aside like the Catholic Church etc. and walk. Lots of cars are left for hours in The Avenue. DO NOT PARK ON THE WHITE LINES, this would allow a better two way passage, with larger passing places. Rant over.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - LB (8th Mar 2014 - 13:17:40) It is totally unacceptable to park across a driveway. The people responsible for this should be brought to account instead of blaming all parents/carers who have no other option but to drive their children to/from school. We are not all irresponsible but there are some people who drive and park selflishly especially when it comes to the school run. Take a note of the number plates and pass it on to the authorities.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - T (8th Mar 2014 - 17:31:06) With regards to the comment about activities out of school hours to be done away from the school, seriously, do you want to see our schools go back to the dark ages? Several things to point out here, firstly Liphook Infant and Junior school does not just provide a wonderful education to the children of Liphook, but also to the surrounding villages, so walking to school for these families is just not an option. Secondly the Catholic Church also provides a great solution to parking as well, but they only have small number of parking spaces and cannot accommodate all the parking problems. Most the roads near the school is already hard to get parking as those parents that do park away from the school are already filling up the roads for parking. Thirdly and I think most importantly at the moment is to point out the amount of road works around the school has highlighted the situation even more so making it an issue once again. Hopefully once they have all gone it will settle down again. We are very lucky to have such wonderful teachers in this school who work very hard to make our childrens\' experience of school a wonderful one, compared to the days when school was 9am - 3.30pm and boring. Teachers have to cram a serious amount of work into the children to provide them with an education for their future, hence the reason for providing out of school hours activities. As it was written in the last school letter regarding the problems with bad parking and speeding, phone 101 as that is the place to direct the problems, with enough complaints the police will then consider putting in speed cameras etc. As a home owner I would feel frustrated as some of the residents if I could not get in and out my drive when needed and I feel for the poor carers that need to attend some of the properties in the area. However, the problem is not the school, its the bad and inconsiderate driving of the vehicle owners. Another possible idea for the residence - the school website shows all activities that will be happening at the school, it may be worth keeping an eye on this so that you can see the days that you come across possible difficulties in the area out of school hours. Not that it will resolve the problem with parking and bad driving, but then you it will be of no surprise on the days it happens and you could prepare yourself for it if you wanted. I still feel that a one way in and out on the Avenue is the best solution and perhaps a walking bus service if some of the parents were able to commit to this.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Dxxxx (8th Mar 2014 - 18:54:39) I think the problem lies in the fact that the schools offer too much after school, to my mind school is school and i was always happy to spend time with my children when school finished, schools seem to offer things as a babysitting service, how about going back to the old days when families spent time together, rather than everyone wanting to palm kids off on whoever will take them. You don't see local residents parking on the yellow lines outside the school, so why the need for everyone to park anywhere and everywhere, until an incident occurs nothing will get done, I have seen many staff driving way to fast down Avenue Close, the school needs to address this as well.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - George (8th Mar 2014 - 21:48:10) I am a mother that drives to both schools, living in Bramshott, is too dangerous to walk with 3 children, along the lanes, with no footpaths! I would like to point out also,...That although the residents are complaining about the parents parking,etc,....i can tell you of 2 households on Avenue Close that use, the school parking for themselves. Yes, it is rude to park across someones drive, although not illegal, if a car is not on the drive, and if it was me, yes of course i would be angry, if i wanted to enter, or leave my drive, and it was blocked. However cant have it both ways,....2 or more of the parking spaces outside the infants & Juniors, are taken by RESIDENTS, of Avenue close! Whats good for the goose, is good for the gander,...as they say!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Paul Robinson (9th Mar 2014 - 08:35:02) The whole subject of traffic management in the Avenue and Avenue Close is currently the subject of a survey by Hampshire Highways instigated by Ferris Cowper our County Councillor. Whilst most of us are aware of the problem of access to the Federated Schools and some of us think we know the solution, I think we should wait for the results of this survey before castigating local residents and or parents in cars dropping off and picking up children. This problem raised its ugly head as a result of a late finishing of the school day on Thursday 6th March, National Book Day, when parents were picking up their children at a time when residents were trying to access their properties at the end of the working day or others were impeded from using the Avenue as a 'rat run' between Longmoor Road and Headley Road. I was among the latter as my office is in the Longmoor Road and my home is in the Headley Road. I am sure that when the Highways Department complete their findings a solution will be found to ease the congestion however it cannot take account of thoughtless and inconsiderate drivers like the one who, rather than wait a minute or so until there was space to continue down the Avenue towards Longmoor Road tried, and eventually succeeded, in completing a seven point turn and exiting back up towards Headley Road. Paul Robinson

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Eh (9th Mar 2014 - 10:04:18) You can't park in front of a drop kerb because it is illegal. Even though it is not a law, it is one of the rules in the highway code hence failure to comply with the rule will not cause the person's prosecution but can be applied as evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts. However, you are allowed to park in front of a dropped kerb outside your property.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Heather (9th Mar 2014 - 12:13:18) Paul has hit the nail on the head. His office is on the Longmoor Road & his home is on the Headley Road. Yet he drives to and from. Lol.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Paul Robinson (9th Mar 2014 - 14:55:34) Perhaps I should have added that I have, more often than not, several bags of books to be posted. When I don't, I walk Paul Robinson

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - tony (9th Mar 2014 - 15:18:10) On the subject of parking in front of dropped kerbs this link might help. www.theanswerbank.co.uk/... Basically it's not an offence of any kind unless you're blocking someone in, even then, it's only a parking ticket. If the drive is empty, there is no offence even if they come back and want to get on the drive! Don't ask me why, that's the law. However common courtesy would tell us not to do it except in an emergency. However, on one occasion I had parked outside the lady in questions house, my wife had gone in to collect the kids and there was literally nowhere else to stop. So I waited with the engine running, ready to move off if they came back. Perfectly legal. Then the good lady came out and ordered me to pull away. Luckily I don't drive there very often or the whole situation would drive me as crazy as it could be doing to that poor lady. But more recently I've seen parents parking outside those houses and leaving the car there whilst they go into the school, it's either be late for the children or risk upsetting the neighbours. But what's worse, committing a parking offence or coming out to start a row? Because that opens up a whole load of possible new offences! I've noticed that all the legit parking spaces are taken up by 3.00pm by mums who get there early specifically for that purpose and sit in their cars chatting through their windows, but not everyone has that luxury, often it's the rushed parents coming from work who have to run the gauntlet of the irate residents and visa versa. And it's the parents who are rushing from work who need the spaces most, not the mums who had time to park elsewhere. Now, irrespective of who's side you take here, the point is that the council has to come up with something better for everyone's sake.

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - E (9th Mar 2014 - 18:09:27) With regards to the parking and traffic congestion this has been an ongoing issue which has remained exactly the same since I attended the junior school over 10 years ago now! I would like to say that I can see the problem being resolved but realistically I struggle to see how the council/school are physically able to magic more parking for all the parents that drive their children to school. A few simple suggestions to help ease the problem would be if the parents resorted to very simple measures: Where possible to do so WALK to school, to be honest its probably actually quicker if you live in Liphook. Look at car sharing with other parents driving from the same area to reduce the number of cars turning up at the school Also there are plenty of cafes and more appropriate places to have your morning chats, drop the children off and then leave to free up spaces for others that are arriving.... maybe a drop off system could be implemented to stop so many parents sitting around chatting? Just some food for thought there!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Diane (9th Mar 2014 - 19:18:03) A few years ago my friend who lived near the school came to get her car out of the garage only to find a large car parked on her drive.When approache the mother stated she was dropping her children off, she wouldn't be long and the driveway was empty anyway and walked off.My friend was used to having the roadway blocked but this took the biscuit. She has since moved

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Dawn Hoskins (9th Mar 2014 - 20:24:03) Tony, The council do not own the land, the houses or the school. The council cannot force drivers to park further away and walk. The council cannot stop drivers from parking in a private driveway. The council cannot ‘force through’ anything as they have no power to do so. The only official body in charge of the roads is the highways authority. The only official body that can enforce road traffic fines are the police. It is this combination coupled with the stupidity of the original layout, that has seen this problem persisting for so many years (decades). When you say ‘the council has to come up with something better – I would be very interested to hear what you propose?

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - kim (9th Mar 2014 - 20:41:24) If you think it's bad now,just wait until they build all the extra housing in Liphook !

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Mike (9th Mar 2014 - 22:57:19) The theory is that when the new developments are complete, this situation will get better. As more school places will be taken by local children, then there will be less space for "out of catchment" applications. Apparently, this means less traffic as they will walk to school. Yeah right!

Re: Liphook Infants & Juniors - Sarah (10th Mar 2014 - 12:38:57) Mike You need to have a look at the school catchment area map. It encompasses many of the surrounding villages, which fall under the Liphook postcode. Lots of us are in catchment, but live in Bramshott, Passfield, Conford, Hewshott etc. It is not always possible, safe etc to walk in from catchment areas further out. What I do find, however, that it is the parents who come from further out of catchment who make use of the Catholic School parking etc and wouldn\'t dream of battling further in to Liphook in the morning. I think it is parents doing their best to drop off and get to work on time who park near school. There is no answer for this, it is just life as we know it. Perhaps double yellows in Avenue Close would help everyone (residents and walking schoolchildren who need to cross the road safely). Beyond that, we have to accept that The Avenue is a public road near two large schools, and traffic is to be expected (obviously I do not condone the few who park on or across private driveways).

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