Claims 'missiles thrown' in parking row with shoppers

[dutchman]

One resident said they feel like a prisoner in their own home



A row over shoppers parking outside residential homes in Coventry has led to “abuse” and “missiles being thrown”, a city councillor has said.

Cllr John McNicholas has called for action to stop the issues caused by people parking at the top of Church Lane, in Stoke, when visiting a row of shops.

One resident told a council meeting on Monday, December 2, that the problem has left them feeling “like a prisoner in my own home”.

A petition of eight signatures urged for the introduction of a residents’ parking scheme to allow only people who live there to park their vehicles.

Speaking at a meeting of the cabinet member for city services, Cllr McNicholas said: “There has been a lot of abuse from people being approached by residents and I will leave you to imagine the sorts of conversations to be had and responses given.

“Missiles have been thrown and it is just worse.

“This is something that has been going on for some considerable time.

“One suggestion was a residents’ parking scheme but if that is not the answer there must be an answer to unfair parking on Church Lane.”

He admitted the problem was in a “very concentrated area” as it only impacted residents close to Walsgrave Road, where the shops are.

Martin Wilkinson, senior officer for traffic management, said residents’ parking schemes are usually deployed on a whole street where most residents do not have access to off-street parking, but most on this road had driveways.

Council officer Caron Archer said that the council had limited tools, adding: “If it’s not a residents’ parking scheme I’m not sure what else it can be.”

Outside the shops are five parking bays limited to one hour Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm, but Cllr McNicholas claimed there were additional car parking space behind the shops which the shop owners could encourage visitors to use.

Cabinet member responsible, Cllr Pat Hetherton, agreed with his suggestion for officers to visit the site and talk to residents over what can be done, but rejected the bid for a parking scheme.

She said: “We don’t want to disadvantage the businesses, that’s not something we want to do, but at the same time you live there all the time and it’s affecting your lives. There’s nothing wrong in asking our enforcement officers to go out and shake it up a bit.”