A frustrated resident says issues with school coaches and parking are “an accident waiting to happen.”

She has complained about coaches parking with their engines on outside her home and busy traffic at school closing time.

The woman, of Manwood Road, Sandwich, said: “Coaches parking here and traffic coming round the bend to pick up the children is an accident waiting to happen.”

She has raised her concerns with Sir Roger Manwood’s School and the coach company.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, says parents park outside her house when they come to pick up their children which often means she can not get her car off the drive.

She said: “We were going to the hospital. I have cancer and I have to go to appointments and there were cars blocking both our driveways. We were waiting 20 minutes to get out.

“It’s so dangerous. There’s no footpath on the right hand side and yellow lines aren’t enforceable.”

After she complained, a meeting was held with the school and the Kent County Council school transport team but the outcome has not yet been shared with residents.

Others have experienced similar issues. Christine Darby, also of Manwood Road, said: “We moved here some 19 years ago, well aware that we are living next door to a school.

“During this time the school has expanded by over a third with not much consideration given to this impact on traffic or parking.”

Mrs Darby explained various suggestions have been made in the past but then discarded.
The idea to have coach parking bays at the end of Manwood Road with the junction of St George’s Road was proposed, as well as a one-way traffic flow from Manwood’s towards Sandown Road and chevron parking in the field side of the street.

She added: “We personally have learned to live with the expansion but feel school drivers – both coaches and cars, could be more considerate when parking outside our house and others.

"The school takes the concerns of our neighbours seriously and tries wherever possible to mitigate any disruption caused by living next to a school." - Mr Hunter.

“The school has a lot of surrounding land and perhaps could consider incorporating a carpark in its use.”

The Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Paul Graeme, who also lives nearby, echoed this feeling but suggested there was no solution.

“From our point of view living right outside the school for 27 years, we just make sure we don’t come back at 3.30pm in the afternoon. The reality is there’s nothing else they can do.”

Lee Hunter, head teacher at Sir Roger Manwood’s said he could not reveal the results of the investigation until KCC School Transport Team has replied to the resident.

He added: “What I can say is that the school takes the concerns of our neighbours seriously and tries wherever possible to mitigate any disruption caused by living next to a school.

“Indeed we went through a very lengthy and detailed consultation in 2009 with our local residents, which included the local MP and KCC School Transport, as a result of which, adjustments were made to where the coaches dropped off and waited.

“That system has been in operation ever since and to my knowledge this is the first complaint about the coaches that we have received since then.”