Unreasonable traffic

I would like to refer to the letters written by Tonella Muscat and Mandy Mallia (March 21), on the "unreasonable traffic rules, wardens near Chiswick school" and could not help but tell our side of the story.

What both these mothers fail to mention is the chaos and inconvenience the parents of the children who attend Chiswick House School create not only once but twice every morning and every afternoon because the children start and finish at different times of the day.

If it weren't for the wardens and the new traffic signs the "law of the jungle" would prevail as happened in the past and still happens today when they are not present. I must also add that the policemen were there to protect the wardens who are usually insulted and threatened by these "educated" parents. It seems that all the parents insist on stopping behind the school's front door for their convenience. One has to experience the chaos to believe it.

The end result is that the drivers (male or female), without any consideration to the residents in the area, park at random. They park on corners, on pavements (even blocking access to gates or front doors) and double-park. One woman had the nerve to actually park in my driveway, and when confronted her reply was "I will only be five minutes" - needless to say I sent her packing. Another who was politely asked to remove her car from in front of our garage and on the pavement replied to my wife "may God give you what you deserve". Excuse me but I deserve better than not being allowed to get my car out of my garage.

They park in front of garages and driveways, on double yellow lines and on both sides in narrow streets; they go past one-way signs, no entry signs and up dead end alleys, thus causing a halt to traffic with mini vans hooting and blaring; the list is endless.

We have to endure all this for nine months of the year in a supposedly quiet and tranquil area. I fail to comprehend why the parents do not make use of school transport, to alleviate this congestion. The residents in the area envisaged this, and it is one of the many reasons why no permits should be allowed for schools in a built-up residential area.

I would like to remind Ms Muscat and Ms Mallia that we also pay taxes. I am pleased to see that some of it is well spent to bring back some law and order in the area. I am sure that the residents in the Stella Maris area near High Street in Sliema were relieved when the school there was closed and relocated. I am sure they were suffering the same inconvenience and chaos we have to endure in Kappara. The only way that traffic will flow freely is when we pray and hope that the same thing will happen here and Chiswick House School will some day be relocated.

I would also like to point out that the school, when still under construction, had the chance to acquire some land opposite and next to the Russian embassy and utilise it for parking, but it seems it was not a good enough investment. This land was later purchased and is now developed.

It is grossly unfair that these parents think that they can make their own laws to suit their convenience. If one breaks the law one should answer for it and think twice before breaching it. I am hoping that the wardens will keep up the good work and restore some sort of law and order in the area. I would also like to express my appreciation to the local council for understanding the problems of the residents who have to endure this daily occurrence.