A FRUSTRATED Chineham resident has shelled out nearly £100 to stop people clogging up her street during the school run.

Melanie Jansen, of Maybrook, in Chineham, spent £90 to buy 10 yellow traffic cones to line the street.

She uses them to stop parents parking in Maybrook when they drop off children at nearby Four Lanes Community Junior School.

Ms Jansen, who works as a revenue protection officer with South West Trains, and a care worker at Basingfield Court, said drivers routinely ignore signs that restrict parking at the road’s entrance between 8.30am and 9.30am, and 2.45pm and 3.45pm.

She added that she struggles to enter Maybrook, or park near her home, when returning from work.

“This issue has been going on for a long time,” said Ms Jansen, who has lived in Maybrook for two-and-a-half years.

“It’s not just dangerous and nuisance parking – people have been abusive when we have told them not to park.

“People do not seem to understand that we can’t get in and out.

“I am not happy about the cones being outside my house but it has to be done.”

However, the cones have attracted criticism from one Maybrook resident. In a letter sent to The Gazette, the resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said parking on Maybrook is not restricted to residents.

“Some residents have decided, without any authority from the council or police, to place no parking bollards in front of their properties,” the letter read.

“As far as I am aware, and as a council tax-paying driver, Maybrook is a public road and drivers can park there if they so desire.”

However, Ms Jansen stressed that she has the permission of Chineham beat officers to put the bollards out.

She added that since she started using the cones in September last year, the parking problem has stopped. “It seems to be working,” she said.