School run parents’ selfish parking causes mayhem – but I’ve been threatened and called a paedo for taking a stand
A CONCERNED dad has been labelled a paedo after he made a stand about the selfish parking of other school run parents.
Aussie-born John Leaver has been staging a protest outside Hollybrook Junior School in Southampton over what he sees as “lazy” parents who park badly or mount the pavements in order to pass one another.
The father-of-two, 49, can often be spotted on Seagarth Lane holding up a sign that says: “Is your convenience worth more than children’s safety”.
John, whose kids, aged seven and 10, attend the school, said he has been threatened and even pushed off the road by irate drivers.
He told the Daily Echo: “They are leaving their cars parked on no-stopping zones, which causes long queues and cars driving over pavements.
“They then drive on the pavement when there’s queues of traffic.
“If a child gets hurt because of this it will be a disaster.”
John added that on one occasion he had put masking tape on a badly parked car, which infuriated the driver.
Exchanges between John and some drivers have become heated at times with John saying he has suffered verbal and physical abuse from parents.
He said: “I was called a paedophile; I was accused of being Hitler for being here with this sign. It’s been pretty hostile.”
John added that on a few occasions the police had been called but did not attend.
Councillor Sarah Wood who represents the Bassett ward said: “We are very aware of the problem of traffic danger on Seagarth Road near Hollybrook School with cars parking and manoeuvring at the school entrance and mounting the pavement to pass each other.
“I live nearby and all three of my children went to Hollybrook Infants and Hollybrook Junior School so I saw the problem at first-hand.”
She added: “I met with the headteacher and a member of the school governors before the summer holidays to discuss possible solutions.”
The councillor added that the school policy was that if kids are not able to walk to school, parents should park at the sports centre and walk in from there.
According to her, the headteacher has tried organising walking buses from the sports centre but was unable to release staff because they needed to be at school to meet the pupils, and was unable to find enough volunteers.
She said: “We are looking into several ways to improve matters.”
The Sun Online has contacted Hollybrook Junior School for comment.