Homeowners living on a private road in West Derby dogged by parking issues relating to the school opposite are to install electronic gates to keep out “irresponsible” drivers. Hawthorns Grove is just across the road from Runnymede St Edward Catholic Primary School, with a number of traffic calming and anti-parking measures along North Drive separating the two.
Such is the restriction on parking for parents picking up and dropping off their children, some took it upon themselves to leave their cars in the private close, much to the frustration of people living there. The ECHO revealed last week how one dad now faces a court battle over his refusal to pay a charge after he was caught on an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera set up by residents.
Gates approved after appeal
Next month, after a planning inspectorate appeal, electronic gates are expected to be installed on the entrance to the close in a bid to keep out unauthorised vehicles. Homeowners told the ECHO how some drivers had become “aggressive” with them when challenged over leaving their cars outside their properties during peak times, often blocking driveways in the process.
In April this year, Steven Thompson received a parking charge notice from UKCPS, the company operating the ANPR camera on Hawthorns Grove. The road itself is unadopted by Liverpool Council, meaning its upkeep is the responsibility of homeowners within, so it can be designated as a private road.
In a letter seen by the ECHO, Steven was spotted on the camera leaving his car for a period of eight minutes on April 13 while dropping his children off. A follow-up letter said: “In accordance with the signage that is clearly and prominently displayed on site, drivers who break the terms and conditions of parking are liable to pay a parking charge.”
Residents describe parking problems
The cameras were installed in May 2025 after the community in Hawthorns Grove came together to take action against the parking issues they encountered over the last two years. The ECHO understands while a small contribution was made by homeowners to pay for the electrical set up of the cameras, the operator pays for their maintenance and is remunerated through any charges issued.
Alan Mitchell moved into his home on Hawthorns Grove in 2018 and said on some occasions before cameras were installed, parking issues had become “horrific.” He said: “There were times people were parking across the drive and sometimes they were doubling up. You couldn’t get emergency vehicles in at some points. We came together as a community to request gates and hopefully they’ll be going in during the October break. We didn’t expect it to take this long.”
An application was made by Hawthorns Grove Gate Company Limited in June last year for the installation of two automated steel gates at the entrance to the close. Liverpool Council rejected this in August 2025 owing to concerns over visual amenities and the potential to “impact upon resident cohesion/ interaction, inclusivity, fear of crime and public safety, segregating the cul-de-sac from the wider community and hindering access by emergency vehicles.”
However, this was overturned on appeal in March after the planning inspectorate disagreed with the local authority’s findings.
Inspectorate backs residents
A decision report said: “Primarily, this relates to the ongoing issues which are experienced due to the parking arrangements of parents dropping off and picking up children from the nearby St Edwards College and the nearby Runnymede Primary School. Having visited the site, I acknowledge the impact of on-street car parking associated with the nearby schools on surrounding roads and at the junction of Hawthorns Grove with North Drive. I also noted the measures which have already been taken by local residents to seek to manage that situation on their street, including the use of an ANPR service and signage to deter drivers from parking on the cul-de-sac.”
The council’s assertion it would be out of character was rejected and access would be permitted “via the permission of homeowners at the gates themselves.” The inspectorate concluded: “While I note the council’s concerns that the installation of gates would appear to be unwelcoming to non-residents and hinder cohesion with the wider community, there is no substantive evidence to support such concerns.”
Such were the parking issues around the school, a letter was issued to parents in 2024 urging them to be more considerate when attending at pick up and drop off times. This included asking drivers not to use the private close on Hawthorns Grove. A car park is situated across from Runnymede St Edward but is closed off by 9.15am. The ECHO has learned this is funded by payments from Hawthorns Grove residents through a neighbourhood levy.
Mr Mitchell said the ANPR cameras which had been installed had been a success. He added: “Within a few days of them going in, it stopped. When we drive, it’s our responsibility to read the signs. The abuse some of us got, people were threatening to drive over the grass, some parked over my driveway.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said he had been prevented from getting out of his home to attend an urgent work call out by drivers leaving their cars in the way. The homeowner, who has lived on Hawthorns Grove for the past 15 years, said: “There’s been irresponsible and dangerous parking. Time and again we asked police to do something but they couldn’t because it was a private road. We pay a levy to maintain this road and it’s always been a problem until the cameras went in. It was the only solution we had. I had to leave early to get to work, not because I wanted to, so I could avoid it all. I wouldn’t come home on time either because I knew it would be bad.”
