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Campaigners meet with Councillor Cowell and Lucy Powell
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Are parking permits the answer?
Marie Burchill10/ 7/2008
RESIDENTS in south Manchester are calling on the council to tackle congestion -- on the streets outside their homes
People in West Didsbury have started a petition urging the council to introduce a permit-only parking scheme.
They say parking problems in the popular suburb have reached ‘melting point’ .
Some residents have said they will even consider moving out of the area if permits aren’t introduced.
Kevin Grey, who has lived on Tintern Avenue in West Didsbury for five years, said: "Parking has been an on-going problem for us, however it seems to have intensified over the last few years.
"The residential streets are constantly jam-packed with cars parked up by people visiting local restaurants and bars, as well as Withington Hospital. We’ve even had people parking their cars for weeks on end as they jet off from Manchester Airport on their holidays.
"We love the bars and restaurants here – it’s not a case of being negative about them – but we need a more effective parking scheme."
Now 50 homeowners from three neighbouring streets in West Didsbury – Tintern, Bottesford and Arley Avenues – have joined forces to petition council members to introduce a residents-only car parking permit scheme within the area. This week residents met the executive member for planning and the environment, Councillor Richard Cowell.
Mr Grey added: "We are having problems with bin men getting their trucks down some of our roads, due to parked cars blocking their way, and a number of people have said that parking is becoming such a problem that they are thinking of moving out of the area altogether.
"We need a remedy to this situation and parking permits seem to be the answer."
Coun Cowell said: "I do believe that there is a problem in West Didsbury and we will now gather survey information – carried out by council workers – to determine the next step. These schemes are not mainstream funded, so we will also look into what money is available through sources such as Section 106 orders."
Similar parking problems are being faced by residents across south Manchester, leaving many calling for action to be taken on their streets.
Mary Paul, who lives on Stockton Road in Chorlton and is a member of the civic society, said: "Chorlton has major car parking issues, there just isn’t enough space for everyone.
"Parking permits would not help us as there just isn’t enough room in the first place. More and more flats are being built, many without parking, so the competition for parking spaces on the roads is very high."
Andrew Simcock, who lives on Knight Road in Didsbury, said: "I’m not sure that parking permits would be the right answer for us, but the congestion needs to be reduced someway.
"I have lived on the road for 18 years and I have to deal with the parking problems everyday."
Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate, Lucy Powell, is supporting the campaign by residents in West Didsbury.
She has sent out a parking questionnaire to more than 2,000 homes in West Didsbury as part of the proposed permit scheme’s survey work.
She said: "West Didsbury is unique in that it has a number of things – the hospital, bars and restaurants – that frequently attract a high number of visitors.
"We need a solution to this problem, while at the same time ensuring that the parking problems aren’t just displaced onto another area."
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Inconsiderate parking, often half way across the pavement, is the bane of the lives of pensioners and mothers with pram, especially as the cars drive along the pavement towards them eg outside the Post Office.
Should we look to the council to help with the problem?? That makes me laugh. You only have to look at the planning permissions which are gradually spoiling our village. The rate income must be wonderful for our Labour Council....so how ironic it is that Lucy Powell has allied herself to our cause.
It is just not right that West Disbury residents cannot park outside their own property. I have family who live in Harrow...and outside their properties they have a permit-only arrangement. This works as it is rigorously enforced. I think we should try it.
To make progress though, the "wardens" must adopt a no-nonsense approach and not just drift around the village making threats but keeping their tickets in their pockets. As long as that happens the problem parkers will just carry on....and by the way, the same situation applies for dangerous school parking.
Question.....how many parking tickets have been issued by wardens for bad parking outside schools in S Manchester in the past year.....we have a right to know!
10/07/2008 at 21:19