The medical centre says it has been left with ‘no choice’ following a number of ‘serious incidents’
Barlow Medical Centre has introduced permits and ANPR because of parents from Beaver Road Primary School blocking the car park(Image: Google Maps)
A doctors’ surgery has introduced parking permits because of school run parents blocking the way.
Barlow Medical Centre in Didsbury has notified patients that ‘due to several recent serious incidents’, it’s been left with no choice other than to bring in number plate recognition cameras and permits.
Parents with children at the nearby Beaver Road Primary School are asked not to use the car park – with reminders in the school newsletter – but it seems not everyone is following the guidance.
The message sent to patients says: “Due to several recent serious incidents involving parents of schoolchildren blocking the practice car park, we have been left with no choice but to install automatic number plate recognition to ensure that only our patients are using our car park.
The school is next to the medical centre(Image: Google Maps)
“The car park is now clearly marked ‘permit holders only’. You can obtain a temporary 2-hour permit each time you visit the practice by entering your car registration on the screens at reception. We are sorry to take this step but it is necessary for the safety and welfare of our patients and staff.”
A copy of the message was shared to the area’s local Facebook page, where most residents welcomed the move saying it ‘needed to be done’, with one person sharing a photo of an ambulance struggling to access the site because of cars blocking the road.
One resident questioned why the school doesn’t make use of its ‘drop off and pick up’ road system that was purposefully designed at the front, but was told access to that was stopped because of the traffic it caused on Wilmslow Road.
Others slammed those using the medical centre car park as ‘selfish’, while one commented: “It’s a shame there’s so many people driving their kids to school instead of walking.”
Parents have been ignoring requests not to park at the medical centre(Image: Google Maps)
The school’s newsletter sent to parents at the start of the autumn term reminded those visiting the Juniors site not to use the car park.
“Barlow Medical Centre is not to be used at any time for parking or dropping/picking your child up,” it said. “This is private land and is for the use of patients and medical teams.”
The MEN has contacted the both the medical centre and the school for comment.
Is parking a problem at your child’s school or in your street? Are you a parent who needs to drive to school to get to work on time? Or do you walk with your children because you can’t park anywhere near school? Let us know in the comments.