A HYDE primary school says it will involve police officers after parents parking cars abused its neighbours.
And anyone found to be doing so has been told they will be banned.
People dropping off and picking up their children at Dowson Primary in Gee Cross have been involved in foul-mouthed incidents with people living nearby.
Now headteacher Kathryn Thornburn has had enough and has asked for police assistance to help tackle the problem.
In a letter, seen by The Correspondent, she says: “Despite multiple pleas to our school community to drive and park safely and respectfully around school at drop off and pick up times, we continue to experience issues daily.
“We have had reported incidents of near misses and aggressive behaviour, including abusive and foul language directed between parents and at our neighbours on the roads surrounding school, particularly York Road.
“This is unacceptable. No-one should have to be subjected to such behaviour on our school premises. It brings our good reputation in the school community into disrepute.
“I have been in touch with the local police to request support to eliminate this anti-social behaviour.”
As well as speaking to the police, Mrs Thornburn has pointed out to parents the Department for Education advises parents can be banned from a school if a member of staff or pupil feels threatened by them.
And she added: “I will therefore impose a ban on the premises to any parent or carer who is insulting, abusive or aggressive to another member of our school community or our neighbours, with whom we have always fostered good relationships.
“I’m sorry that I’ve had to send this to everyone when the great culture and ethos of our school is spoiled by a minority.
“But I’ve reached a point where I’ve exhausted my options of polite requests to treat each other with respect and in a way that is a positive role model for our pupils.”
Dowson is not the only primary school where police have tackled the issue of problem parking.
At Aldwyn in Audenshaw, a patrol around home time saw 12 drivers advised about their actions and two tickets issued for obstructing the footpath.
Denton’s Russell Scott initiated and funded a Junior PCSOs scheme, with pupils donning hi-vis vests and handing out information leaflets to warn motorists about the dangers of inconsiderate parking.
The school’s location among housing, retail and commercial units meant it was often clogged up by cars of parents dropping off and picking up youngsters.
But headteacher Steve Marsland had enough after seeing more and more pupils suffering from asthma or carrying inhalers.
He made 10 ‘PCSOs’ whose job it was to make sure people did not sit in cars with their engines running, further flooding the air with fumes.