information required for possible access arrangements problems

dipsy

Hi not sure if anyone can help but would appreciate any info that anyone can give.

Basically my partner has 2 children that live in Kent, some 4 /5 hour journey away from where we live.

He sees them every other weekend.

This weekend gone 5th December he left at midday to pick the children up and didn't arrive in Kent till 11pm due to tailbacks leading up to Dartford Bridge and then an accident on the A2 - so he had to divert.

I have managed to find out the info re the accident on the A2 and did a screen shot showing the A2 shut on Friday evening but can't find information relating to the tailbacks leading up to Dartford Bridge.

Partner is keen to try and gather this information as he is certain the childrens mum will try and use the fact that he arrived at 11pm to prevent future access when they finalise access arrangements following the conculsion of their divorce.

When he arrived he apologised, and rightly so the children were in bed so partner slept in car and took the children first thing in the morning.

he thinks that she does not believe the journey took him this long, and therefore he would like to make sure we have the information to hand to show his solicitor should the need arise.

thanks in advance.

Savvy_Sue

Local paper for the following day? They might have a website which reported it?

JoolzS

Perhaps try contacting the AA, or even the local police? They may have some information they could provide for you.

Julie

Notsosharp

Hi,

Has your partner been consistant in seeing the children every other weekend? If its the first weekend that he has missed and with a valid reason I don't think she could use that as a reason to stop future access. The courts will always try and have the best interests of the children in mind when considering access etc and if its in their best interests (which it more than likely is) to see their father I don't think they would deny access because he turned up late. The fact he slept in the car to see his children the next day shows commitment. I doubt very much my ex would do that having already proclaimed in court that he doesn't want to get up at half five once a month to travel down and see his daughter!

blackcoffee

I agree with the previous poster, if this is the first incident where he was late, and the fact that he slept in the car, in probable freezing conditions, i realy dont think she has a case.

duchy

Surely he called to say he was stuck in traffic anyway (good manners and stops the children fretting if they are expecting him). Quite honestly if it was a one-off it's unlikely to have any impact whatsoever.
My ex used to have consistent problems with Kent traffic -he was always amazed the journey on a Friday took so much longer than on a Sunday morning -it's always bad.
I don't understand what this has to do with custody though-he appears to have access not custody anyway-they are not the same thing.

pinkshoes

Why is there a 5 hour drive between him and the kids? Who moved away?

Local BBC radio does traffic reports, and put them on their web pages too, so they'd have the information, along with the police, so contact them. The fact that he slept in the car proves his dedication!

dipsy

duchy wrote: »

Surely he called to say he was stuck in traffic anyway (good manners and stops the children fretting if they are expecting him). Yes he did call to inform her of his delays along route

Quite honestly if it was a one-off it's unlikely to have any impact whatsoever.

I wish I could share your confidence, I know that any mistakes/delays are logged and thrown back at the first opportunity and quite often than not in earshot of the children!!

My ex used to have consistent problems with Kent traffic -he was always amazed the journey on a Friday took so much longer than on a Sunday morning -it's always bad.

I know that he is aware the traffic is bad, but to have a 10 hour journey is not the norm, it normally takes about 5 hours for the trip

I don't understand what this has to do with custody though-he appears to have access not custody anyway-they are not the same thing.

I was talking about access arrangements, which presently are an informal agreement, but may well become a formal arrangements through the courts at a later stage. - have altered my title to avoid confusion

dipsy

pinkshoes wrote: »

Why is there a 5 hour drive between him and the kids? Who moved away?

5 hour drive as journey is from the North of England, shemoved away with the Children, to be near her family - which I can understand, however one of the reasons she stated was because she would have childcare assistance from family members and yet wants holiday care to be shared 50/50 and sometimes more like 75/25 - which any working person will appreciate is not possible due to restrictions on holidays etc.

Also lack of planning regarding holidays, leaves it to the last minute - maybe just me but as a working parent I arrange my childcare cover at least 6 months in advance - and yes there are sometimes last min changes sometimes but those are the exception not the rule

Local BBC radio does traffic reports, and put them on their web pages too, so they'd have the information, along with the police, so contact them. The fact that he slept in the car proves his dedication!

the BBC report went off the website the Sunday and whilst I did take a copy of the text it doesn't show the date, however have since got a report being sent by the highways agency. - maybe wont need it , but better to have the information than not to have it.