'Selfish parents shouldn't take up parking spaces by schools as kids can walk'

A woman has blasted parents who use their cars for the , sparking a fierce debate online with her strong views about parking woes near schools. In a bold statement on , the social media user vented: "Why do people park up outside schools 40 minutes+ before their children finish for the day? I'm shocked by the number of cars parked just after 2pm outside my local secondary and primary schools today. With catchment areas and the like, surely they can't all live beyond walking distance - especially with like today (18°C and not a cloud in sight where I am)."

Since being posted, the message has struck a chord on social media, amassing hundreds of responses with diverse takes on the subject. The woman's opinion has really divided the crowd.

The debate seesawed between sympathy for her position and justifications from parents, fuelling a fiery exchange about school-time congestion.

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Warning: Below post may contain offensive language

One parent retorted: "I don't have a choice. I have to drive to pick the kids up and, if I've finished work, I'm not going home for 10 minutes to then go back out. It's easier to just go and wait at the school."

Another shared their own experience, writing: "I'm in the exact same situation, although I only do the school run on Mondays and Fridays. I don't live near my daughter or her school.

"It makes sense to turn up early and wait rather than go home for a few minutes and sit in traffic crawling. I don't park like a d***head though and use AirPods and turn my engine off, unlike some other parents who sit there blaring music with the AC on full blast whilst smoking."

Someone else said: "Maybe they finish work at 2pm, and just go straight to the school rather than home and out again? I know mums who love a bit of time alone in the car because it's literally the only time they get to themselves!"

However, not everyone was on board with the early arrivals, with some agreeing with the original poster that the behaviour is "selfish". The topic seemed to strike a chord as many were eager to express their opinions.

A frustrated local resident pointed out: "Outside the schools around here the ones who turn up an age beforehand are sitting, not parked, obstructing the local roads, so they are already creating traffic problems. Also worth saying all of those schools this happens with are infant/junior with very small catchment areas. Everyone lives within walking distance for a child."

Another person questioned the current trend of school pick-ups, adding: "Have I lived in an alternate reality all my life? I went to a school eight miles from my house, we took the bus or got a train... why does everyone have to pick up their kids now?"

Someone else wrote: "To be fair, I live in Norfolk and our catchment area has an odd protrusion of about nine or 10 miles to catch a village not served by any other schools.

"But, what I honestly don't get, is why people don't just park like a five to 10 minute walk away? The kids would benefit, and it would make everyone's life easier.

"My daughter's school has a tiny car park at the front gate, then another about twice the size like 75m walk up the road in the opposite direction. Cars will be queuing to get into the road to the small car park having driven past the half empty one."