I went to meet concerned parents and the Travel Group this morning outside Coldfall School where they have been having a nightmare of a time with parents parking irresponsibly when dropping off children. And not only the dropping off – but the maneuvering of their cars to get out of the cul-de-sac in Coldfall Avenue is lethal. Over recent weeks, I had managed to get the local beat officer and the PCSOs (Police Community Support Officers) to drop by to try by their presence to ensure better behaviour.

I had also gone to have a look at what might be done to deter parents from driving badly by physical means – perhaps bollards to stop people reversing over the pavement and a widening of the pavement itself which is extremely narrow in front of the school. There is a bid in train for money from the ‘Safe Routes to School’ pot – but even if successful it will take some time. Personally, I think Haringey Council needs to act quicker than that on a few of the small but really helpful measures. I will ask to meet an officer next week to look at the possibilities.

While there, the beat officer turned up in person. It was wonderful to watch the salutary effect he had on miscreants! One woman had double parked her 4 by 4 quite a little way back from the school, keeping what she probably thought was a safe distance from the police officer. But he caught her on the way out and hopefully put the wind up her enough to stop her doing it again. We can but hope!

But we also need the Council to get its act together on those other measures to reduce the problem.