Over the past few months we have been receiving an increasing amount of complaints regarding parking during the school drop off and pick up times. The main areas affected by this are Lynton Lane, Davey Lane, Eaton Drive, Ryleys Lane, Brook Lane and Lydiatt Lane.
Although we appreciate that parking is limited in the village it does not excuse careless and dangerous parking. Police notices have been displayed in some of these areas and little if no notice is being taken of them. This being the case, it is now time to take a much more pro-active approach to try and resolve this issue before an accident occurs.
What I intend to do, with the assistance of my colleagues, is monitor the parking during the hours mentioned, any vehicles committing an offence will be issued with a £30 fixed penalty notice. If this does not begin to ease the problem then I will run what is known as Operation Python.
This is a parking initiative used to tackle dangerous and obstructive parking which involves both Police and Egertons who will be there ready to immediately tow any necessary vehicles. This is an extreme approach and is one I only wish to use as a last resort so it is important that all motorists are aware of the following offences and to make sure that they do not commit them;
- Parking with 10 metres of the junction is an offence - All vehicles must be parked at least 10 metres away from the junction.
- Parking on the pavement is an offence if the vehicle is not leaving enough room for a double buggy and wheel chair.
- Double parking on the pavement restricting the flow of traffic is an offence.
Comments
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I intend to set up a meeting involving all three of the local schools, police, council, parish council and highways to see if everyone can work together to get something sorted now before any more accidents happen.
Would residents and parents have the opportunity to attend and get involved?
The police and the former PCSO have done one or two no-parking 'attacks' there but the effect is temporary at best...your new PCSO (Rebecca) is proposing to have another go shortly I believe...there was formerly a proposal to put double yellow lines on Lynton Lane, but that 'died' for some unknown reason.
When I spoke with the C.E. highways man (Rob Cramer) he told me that there would be a village-wide survey in 2010 (2011?) when individual roads would be looked at re. parking (hold your breath?).
Meantime the residents of Lynton Lane are (I am told) getting up a petition to call attention to their parking problems.
If there's a parking problem on your road, especially if it is illegal parking, you might have a go at Rob Cramer, or approach your C.E. Councillor or try Rebecca or complain to George Osborne?
Sadly the parish council has no authority over highways.