A car park row has sparked a fierce debate among parents in Cliviger.
Parents who send their children to St John's Primary School, which is directly opposite the pub, say they have long used The Ram Inn pub’s car park, on Burnley Road, for dropping off and picking up children during the school run.
However, access has now been restricted to pub customers only and some parents have criticised pub bosses for making this decision.
Andy Hitchen, director of the pub, has defended its decision and says management of school pick-up arrangements and road safety in the area sits with the school and the local council.
One parent said: "I’m writing to express my disappointment regarding the recent changes to the car park at The Ram Inn.
"For many years, parents from the local school have relied on the car park for quick drop-offs and pick-ups.
"At around 8.30am, when the pub is not yet open, this has always provided a safe and practical solution.
"We are simply asking for a reasonable compromise. The busy periods amount to roughly 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the afternoon.
"We completely understand the need to restrict access during events such as funerals or private functions. It has also been blocked on Sundays for people going to church.
"We hope you will consider the safety of our children and grandchildren and allow continued use of the car park during these short windows."
Andy said the car park is for paying customers and explained the reasons behind the restrictions.
Mr Hitchen said: "First and foremost, there has been discussion concerning safety and of course the safety of children is something everyone in the community takes seriously.
"However, the management of school pick-up arrangements and road safety in the area ultimately sits with the school and the local council.
"As a private business, our responsibility is to ensure our premises remain safe, accessible, and suitable for our customers."
He said parents who use the pub before or after school are welcome to park, and added the pub has tried to work with the school.
Mr Hitchen said: "We have made efforts to engage with the school to find a workable solution; however, we were advised that they were too busy to discuss the issue at the time, and unfortunately no resolution has been reached so far. We remain open to constructive dialogue that supports both the school community and our business."
Some members of the public have called for compromise.
One person said: "I can see both sides.
"It must be frustrating when the pub is open and all the parents are using this to pick up their children therefore not much parking for customers.
"Hopefully, the school and the pub can come to some compromise or stagger drop-offs and pick-ups then it doesn’t become an issue."
Others have defended the pub’s decision.
Another commenter said: "The Ram is a private business.
"The car park is private property.
"It’s the parents' responsibility to ensure safe drop off and collection of their own children."
Stonegate Pubs, which owns the pub, has said it will continue working to find a "practical, community-minded" solution.
A spokesperson for Stonegate Pubs, which owns the pub, said: "We understand the strength of feeling around this issue and appreciate the concerns raised by parents and the local community. The car park at The Ram Inn is private and is intended for use by pub customers only, so it’s important that access remains safe and available for those visiting the business.
"We are aware of the challenges during school drop-off and pick-up times and are continuing to work closely with the publican to explore practical, community-minded solutions. We are also open to engaging with the school to find a balanced approach that supports both the needs of parents and the sustainability of the pub."
St John's Primary School, Cliviger, declined to comment.
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