A HEADTEACHER has apologised to local residents after placing cones in a residential street – to make space for school guests.

One resident, who contacted The Bolton News, said he saw cones being placed on the street this morning.

Now the acting head of St Thomas’ CE Primary in Halliwell, said she had contacted residents to apologise for the inconvenience.

Kay Ritchie, said: “I have contacted a couple of residents already and apologised for the inconvenience this may have caused.

“We had a special visitor at the school over the past couple of days so we had to make sure that they had somewhere to easily park.

“The issue only lasted two days and has now been fully resolved on our part.

“I can only apologise to residents again for this.”

The 21-year-old resident told The Bolton News he was appalled to find cones had been positioned outside his house, opposite the primary school, in Eskrick Street.

He said he saw the cones being placed at approximately 7am.

He said: “I am absolutely appalled as to what I have just witnessed.

“I live opposite St Thomas primary school. I noticed the cones outside our houses to save parking.

“This is horrendous considering I have lived here for more than 21 years and even attended the school myself.

He added: “How are we supposed to live in peace when we have our own local school causing such disruption to the surrounding residents?

“This has been going on for some time despite several complaints from different residents.

“We have tried contacting the school multiple times but have had no co-operation.

Another resident, Mohammad Patel, said he was also affected by the cones.

He said: “We came back from morning prayers to find that traffic cones had been placed for the second day in a row at 7am in order to reserve parking for a member of staff at the school.

He told the Bolton News that parking issues had gone on for years, but that cones have only just been used over the past two days.

“We have tried to make numerous attempts through our local councillors, letters and even trying to arrange a meeting with the headteacher and other staff.

“But whenever it reaches the school, they do not want to try and make any attempt at all to discuss how we can work together in this community and help each other in this situation.

“The residents are not trying to be awkward and not trying at all to cause problems, however let me be clear: the school just does not want to co-operate.”

“Numerous residents have contacted the school today, furious about the cones.

“When I asked the school why this happened, I was told it just a misunderstanding and that the cones were supposed to be placed outside the school not to block parking.

“This has been going for many years with staff members taking up multiple car park spaces, parking bumper to bumper and even being disrespectful to residents when they are being asked to move their car.”