Abusive parents force shutdown of car park (From Dorset Echo)

Abusive parents force shutdown of car park

7:00pm Monday 22nd January 2007 in Cars By Louise Isaacs

A SMALL number of abusive parents at Ringwood Junior School have forced the town council to close the car park at the neighbouring Hightown cemetery during school pick-up and drop-off times each day.

Town bosses say they have been left with no choice but to close the car park between 8 and 9am, and 2.30 and 3.30pm, following complaints from grieving relatives that parents using the car park have been abusive as well as letting their children run wild.

The school has sent out letters to parents to try and halt the antisocial behaviour but as no improvement has been seen, the council says it had to act.

Town clerk Terry Simpson said: "The school has been very supportive and I must stress that it is only a small minority of parents who are acting badly.

"But they are treating this area in the completely wrong way. People who visit the cemetery have complained to us because they cannot park there and parents are abusive and their children allowed to run wild."

He says that the problem is not new and even happened for a period last year, but the council had given the school permission to use the car park as long as it was done so with respect.

The car park, which has around 30 spaces, is expected to remain closed for several weeks.

"There is of course still pedestrian access and the car park is opened again once the pupils are in school or have gone home," said Mr Simpson.

"And the cemetery is still open for funerals."

The school has told the Echo that it has, "no comment" to make.