Up to 30 taxis picking up children from a special needs school are making it a “no go” area for residents.

Cabbies arrive “en masse”, parking on double yellow lines, around bends and across driveways, according people living near Ripplevale School and College in Rochester.

Many of the children are transported to the formerly-known Trinity School in New Road in council-subsidised vehicles coming from all over Kent.

People living in New Covenant Place, which is a cul-de-sac, and Five Bells Lane, a no through road, and Nags Head Lane have complained that drivers are often rude to them when asked to move.

At times some have not been able to drive from or to their homes because the neighbourhood is “clogged up” with taxis, especially between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

Jeremy Fox, who runs The Elite Driving School and lives in Nags Head Lane, said: “They take over the whole road.

“Frankly, it’s dangerous and it beggars belief that these drivers escort special needs children to and from the school.

“It is very annoying and residents are very angry about it. We sympathise that these children need to be driven but that needn’t be at the expense of residents.

Mr Fox, 66, said a trial run of staggering arrivals during Covid improved the situation with just a couple of vehicles parked up each day.

He said : “For some reason it has not been reintroduced and they arrive en masse.”

Terry and Sue Owen, who have lived New Covenant Place for 11 years, said it has turned into s a “no-go area” on school day afternoons.

Sue, 78, said : “I do a keep- fit class on Thursdays and I have to hang around for half an hour after it finishes because I know there will be nowhere to park.

“My husband suffers COPD and likes to go for a little walk. He gets upset where there are cars on the pavement.

“They show no respect to the people who live here. The children come with escorts. Could they not park elsewhere in a car park and walk up to the school?”

Joanne Baker, head teacher of the school which caters for children with autism, Asperger’s syndrome and learning and communication difficulties said she “genuinely sympathised” with residents.

Miss Baker said : “We have contacted the council several times and really tried to come up with answers.

“On my request, we had enforcement officers come up, but that was only twice”.

She said she had offered to pay for parking bays outside the school to create a“taxi rank” and encourages drivers to use both the front access of the school and college.

Miss Baker said bringing in staggered arrivals now that the school was fully open would not work logistically as teachers would have to work longer hours.

Alex Constantinides, Medway Council’s strategic lead for frontline services, said: “Parking restrictions are in place for the safety of pedestrians and motorists and this is even more important outside Medway’s schools.

“We will work with the school to ensure that pupils and their families feel safe on the journey to and from school, encourage active modes of travel, wherever possible, and for drivers to park considerately if travelling by car.

"Our civil enforcement officers regularly patrol across Medway, including around schools. Illegal parking is not tolerated at any time and a penalty charge notice will be issued to those found breaching the regulations.

“Residents can report parking concerns directly to our parking enforcement team by calling 07718 130962 between 7am and 1am, seven days a week or by visiting medway.gov.uk/ParkingHotline.”