A PUB owner has today defended his decision to ban parents from parking their cars in his car park during the school run.

A PUB owner has today defended his decision to ban parents from parking their cars in his car park during the school run.

Rosario D'Angelo, owner of The Admirals Head pub in Little Bealings claimed a row broke out between himself and parents at nearby Bealings primary school, in Sandy Lane, after he became increasingly annoyed with the number of cars parked in the car park.

Although the car park has always officially been for the patrons of the pub only, the rules have always been relaxed and parents used to freely leave their cars there for a few moments while they picked their children up or dropped them off at the school across the road.

However Mr D'Angelo, who took over the pub three years ago, decided to stop this arrangement because he felt some people were not taking care of the car park including dropping litter and leaving cars in front of garages.

Mr D'Angelo claimed on certain days, like sports days, cars would be left for a couple of hours, and on one occasion, prevented him getting his own car out.

He added: “Customers driving past would think the pub was too busy so would not stop or they wouldn't be able to get a space.

“It has always been patrons only but we gave the parents a chance to park there because there is not much space in the village.

“It is better now and even though one or two cars still park there, it is not a big problem anymore.”

Head teacher at the school, Duncan Bathgate, said: “The owner only allows patrons to park there and that is his right.

“There is no problem here.”

Have you been involved? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.