Parents on the school run will no longer be able to use the Fox and Hounds’ car park after the pub shut access following an incident that left the landlady feeling “threatened”. The decision, announced on Sunday, comes after what the pub described as a “safety concern” involving a confrontation with a parent during the morning drop-off.
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Landlady Helen Hay said she felt “threatened” when a parent became agitated after discovering his vehicle had been blocked in. She added that the same individual also directed threats at a member of staff.
Mrs Hay and her husband, Ian, had previously allowed parents to use the car park as a gesture of goodwill, particularly since the introduction of the Council’s School Street scheme, which had restricted parking near Springfield Primary School.
However, Mrs Hay said repeated issues had arisen since the changes were implemented, and the latest altercation left them feeling unsafe and unable to continue offering the space to parents.
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police described the matter as “a minor public order incident involving two people arguing in the car park”, adding that there were “no injuries and no arrests”. The force confirmed the dispute would be resolved through a community resolution. The Fox and Hounds, located on City Road near Springfield Primary School, announced the permanent change in a Facebook post at around 1pm on 8 December.
The statement read: “Due to an incident this morning that required police involvement, we have made the difficult decision to close the car park to school parents both mornings and afternoons, effective immediately.
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“We understand this may cause inconvenience, and we are genuinely sorry to our community for having to take this step. However, ongoing issues have made it clear that this is now necessary to keep everyone safe.
“Thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and continued support.”
The closure marks a significant shift for parents who had relied on the pub’s car park during the busy school run, but the owners insist the decision was made in the interest of safety for staff and customers.
