Police parking crackdown at Vancouver elementary school upsets parents

Parents at a downtown Vancouverelementary school say now that police have started enforcing the no-parking zone in front of Lord Roberts Annex,they have nowhere to park when they deliver andcollect their youngchildren from school.

Last week police started handing out tickets after years of turning a blind eye to parents parking in front of the school.Lord Roberts Annex is located next to a major intersectionin the heart of thecar-unfriendlyWest End.

"If theysay, you know guys, I'm going to give you a warning, please don't park here and let's find some solution," said Carlos Hernazez the parent of a six-year-old student. "But they just put the tickets and that's it."

Hernandezwas one of a number of parents who were ticketed when they parked to walk their child into the building.

Vice-PrincipalMaria Donovan says the bigger problemis that Lord Roberts Annex doesn't have designated parking.

"We're kindergarten to Grade 3so thelittle darlings need to beescortedinto the school, or picked up in the school." she said."Even though there's pay parking down the block there's no guaranteethere's going to be spots."

When contacted by CBC News, aVancouver police spokesperson said he wasn't immediately aware of what instigated the crackdown.

Donovan says she's asked the Vancouver School board to approach the city about either building a car pullout, or turning Nelson Street infront of the school into a one-way to accommodateon-street stopping.

In the meantime Donvoan is advising parents to walk their children to school.