Coopersale & Theydon Garnon C.E. (V.C) Primary School

Dear Parents/Carers,

I am writing to remind all families about the importance of parking considerately and legally during school drop-off and collection times.

We have received complaints from residents whose driveways have been repeatedly blocked by parents attending school. This is causing significant distress and inconvenience to local residents who are unable to access their own homes.

Please ensure you:

• Never block driveways - including all properties on Coopersale Common and surrounding roads
• Never park across dropped kerbs or vehicle entrances
• Never stop on double yellow lines, even for "just a minute"
• Never park in a way that obstructs the road or creates a safety hazard

Why this matters:

Blocking a driveway is not just inconsiderate - it's an offence. Residents have every right to report obstructing vehicles to Essex Police, and you could face enforcement action.

More importantly, our school is part of this community. The goodwill of our neighbours matters, and we must show them respect.

We know parking can be difficult, but there are alternatives:

• Park a little further away and enjoy a short walk to school with your child
• Arrive a few minutes earlier to avoid the busiest times
• Consider car-sharing with other families from your area

Moving forward:

We will be including this reminder regularly in our communications. We ask that every family takes responsibility for parking legally and considerately.

If you see dangerous or obstructive parking, please report it to:

• Essex County Council Highways (for parking enforcement) 0345 743 0430 or website.
• Essex Police (for obstruction offences - 101 non-emergency number or online)

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together we can be good neighbours and keep everyone safe.

With kind regards,

Coopersale and Theydon Garnon C.E. Primary School