I am forced to use garbage cans to save parking space in front of my house after my street was blocked by mothers going to school

ONE author has resorted to garbage cans to save a parking space in front of her house.

Helen Barrell claims that her road in Sandwell, West Midlands, is constantly clogged with parents on their way to school, leaving her with nowhere to stop.

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The 43-year-old said the nearby elementary school has no parking facilities, meaning moms, dads and teachers are blocking her street instead.

Helen, who has lived in her home for 12 years, said things got so bad she reserved a spot outside with her bins.

She told BirminghamLive: “The street I live on is right by a primary school which doesn’t have staff parking so they all park on my street and other streets nearby.

“And at the end of school and pick-up time, the parents all try to park on the street.

“It’s a nightmare for local residents as there’s just nowhere to park.”

She said she first tried the garbage can method when she had a window replaced.

“I couldn’t let the contractors carry it all the way up the street or it risked breaking,” Helen said.

“And they needed access to their tools while they worked.

“It’s just something we all have to do occasionally.”

Author and librarian Helen, who lives with her partner and their cat, has also complained about drivers speeding down her street so fast she fears for her life.

She is now urging the council to introduce a 20mph speed limit and a one-way system in the area.

“It seems crazy to me that a road near a school isn’t already 20 mph, but it looks like it’s not a priority because nobody’s been mowed down and killed yet,” she said.

“It seems awful to me that we have to wait for someone to die before anything is done.”

A spokesman for Sandwell Council said: “Over the past few years, Sandwell Council’s Highways team has worked hard to improve safety across the county, studying and implementing road safety measures.

“All one-way inquiries in the district are always carefully examined, as they can have both advantages and disadvantages.

“The area around Gladys Road and Ethel Street is already being considered for a 20-mile zone in this year’s road safety work programmes.

“Sandwell Council is listening to local communities and will provide additional funding to accommodate a wider range of community requests for road safety measures this year.”

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