ANGRY patients at Widbrook Surgery in Trowbridge are fed up with parking problems when they try to visit their GP at certain times of day.

The surgery claims that parents of pupils at St John’s School, next door to the practice in Wingfield Road, are parking in their car park at school drop-off and pick-up times, which means patients have to park far away and risk being late for their appointments.

Parents have also allegedly been speaking to patients and even doctors in an abusive manner as rush hour tensions rise.

A spokesman from the surgery said: “It’s an ongoing issue and we have tried to resolve it with the school but the problem is persisting.

“Patients aren’t commonly late for their appointments but there is reportedly aggression from the parents which is the last thing patients want on their way to an appointment.

“We are aware that it’s difficult for parents who want to drop their children off quickly and drive on but we have sick patients and the parking issue only causes them more grief.

“I know that it also affects Wingfield Care Home and staff from there have recently been monitoring the use of the car park.

“Until a solution is found this problem will just continue.”

According to the surgery the problem is at its greatest when parents drop their children off at school at around 8.30am in the morning and when they pick them in the afternoon at around 3pm.

Trowbridge town councillor John Knight said he is aware of the ongoing problem and thinks the attitude of some parents is 'selfish and rude', adding that the only way matters will improve is if parents show more consideration when parking.

Headteacher of the school, Frank Toner, said: “This is not a new issue, in fact I think it has existed ever since the school was built.

“We have a good relationship with our neighbours and we liaise with them frequently but it’s an ongoing problem which sadly doesn’t have an easy solution.

“In our newsletters we advise parents not to park in the surgery’s car park and we have also put notices up in their car park to advise them to park elsewhere.

“We have also been working in liaison with Wiltshire Police and officers have been coming down for the past two weeks to offer advice on parking responsibly.

“I appreciate the surgery's frustrations and have sympathy for them.”