War has broken out between parents of children at a Wallington school and angry residents who live in the surrounding area.

The mayhem begins every morning at 8.30am outside Wallington School for Girls, on Woodcote Road, when selfish parents double-park across parked cars and litter the double-yellow lines along the main road.

Much to the annoyance of residents, the state-run grammar school, with over 1,300 students, actually encourage parents to drop off students away from the main entrance so they can “stride” to school.

Some residents, who live in nearby Spencer Court, have complained that it can take them an extra half an hour just to get out of their road.

Richard Thrower, of Spencer Court, said: “It can be incredibly frustrating when you can’t get out of your road to go to work in the morning. Not a great way to start the day, every day.”

“The situation is completely untenable at the moment. We have complained to the school but they don’t seem to be interested. It is compounded because it is one of the busiest roads in Wallington.

“When parents’ cars are lined along the double yellows and National Express coaches comes past it actually is extremely dangerous for children as well. A motorcyclist was killed here about a year ago.”

Barbara Greatorex, head of Wallington School for Girls, said they are doing everything they can to dissuade parents from blocking residents.

She said: “As a school we are constantly asking our parents, via our fortnightly newsletter, not to park in front of residents cars and properties but we have no jurisdiction to stop them doing so.

“I do sympathise with the residents especially by Spencer Court, but we are a school with 1,300 students and not everyone lives within walking distance.

“I can appreciate that it seems like we aren’t doing anything. We work very hard at sounding out this message to parents but we are not allowed to expand the car park.”

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