Cheltenham Primary School parking: Parents fined over no stopping zone

New parking restrictions have led to unsuspecting parents being hit with multiple fines. But that’s not what they’re angry about.

Changes to Charman Rd as part of level crossing removal.

The school drop off has become a dangerous nightmare for Cheltenham Primary School parents after one-hour carparking spaces were removed.

Parking restrictions on Charman Rd were changed during lockdown on September 29 by the Level Crossing Removal Authority as part of a precint overhaul.

Parents said they weren’t warned that a no stopping zone between 8-9am and 3-4pm had been introduced.

Vanessa Furnari, who received two $165 fines in a week, said there were now only three car spaces parents could use for drop off and pick up.

“I basically have to choose between stopping in the middle of the road and let my eight-year-old out of the car, which is incredibly dangerous, or join a queue of cars waiting for one of the three kiss and go spots,” she said.

Another parent Ruth Krasniqi said if she missed one of the five-minute spots it could take up to 10 minutes to drive further up Charman Rd towards Nepean Hwy, turn around and come back to the school.

“It’s even more chaotic now than before,” she said.

Another parent Ruth Krasniqi said if she missed one of the five-minute spots it could take up to 10 minutes to drive further up Charman Rd towards Nepean Hwy, turn around and come back to the school.

“It’s even more chaotic now than before,” she said.

“It’s a nightmare to navigate and I think has made a bad situation worse.”

However, Level Crossing Removal Project Program (LXRP) Director Adam Maguire said the changes had made the area safer.

“By removing the dangerous and congested level crossing on Charman Rd we’ve made the area around Cheltenham Primary School safer for students,” he said.

According to the LXRP the parking changes were discussed with the primary school in early 2020 and the school was informed when the changes came into effect.

Ms Krasniqi was fined for parking in a no stopping zone outside the school on November 16.

She said Bayside Council parking officers were regularly at the school taking photos of drivers so fines could be issued.

“It seems like a money grab to me,” she said.

Ms Furnari has unsuccessfully appealed her fines to the council.

Her request included a letter of support from Cheltenham Primary School.

The school’s business manager Jezz Langworth wrote that the school had not been notified of any changes to parking and had it known it would have warned parents.

In its response to Ms Furnari’s appeal the council said that parking signs should be checked “every time you park your car, even if you are familiar with the area”.

The time Ms Furnari has been given to pay the fines has been extended to January 18, 2021.

This financial year to date 26 fines have been issued along the whole of Charman Rd.

Last year there were 42 fines issued along the road during the same period.

Bayside Council parking officers have issued 7880 fines this financial year across the municipality.