Yellow lines on School House Green

Further to my previous posts here and here on hazardous parking on School House Green, Lancashire County Council have now agreed to and installed parking restrictions on School House Green following consultation with local residents.

In coming to its decision, the County Council referred to the fact there have been reports of emergency vehicles being unable to negotiate School House Green due to parked vehicles at the junction with Wigan Road. Refuse wagons have also repeatedly been unable to get past the junction of School House Green and Wigan Road.

They also say the Police have been regularly patrolling the area and in the last year issued 33 Fixed Penalty Notices—all issued either because drivers have been ‘wilfully obstructing free passage along the highway’ or ‘in charge of a vehicle causing unnecessary obstruction’.

In view of that, the County Council consider that the proposed No Waiting at Any Time restriction on School House Green and Oak Green will enable the safe passage of traffic for large vehicles, pedestrians and the residents of the estate.

Mill Street/Millers Court parking restrictions get the go ahead

You may remember that back in January, the highways authority undertook a consultation regarding plans to extend parking restrictions on the corner of Mill Street and Millers Court.

That consultation has now finished and I am advised that Lancs County County has agreed that the extension of restrictions should go ahead after a majority of residents who responded supported the proposals.

Lancs County Council made the decision after hearing that numerous reports have been received from West Lancashire Borough Council after its refuse vehicles have been unable to get into Millers Court due to cars parking on the junction. Emergency vehicles have not been able to attend to properties in Millers Court due to the parked cars.

LCC say the No Waiting at Any Time restriction at the junction will enable the safe passage of traffic for all vehicles and pedestrians and enable the residents of Millers Court to enter onto Mill Street with clear sight lines.

Ever since I became the local Conservative candidate for Derby Ward, I have continually raised the issue of hazardous parking with both the highways authority and the police. Hopefully these new restrictions will stop the access to Millers Court being blocked.

Parking ‘overspill’ issue on Brook Lane

Hazardous parking on Brook Lane is a long-standing problem, and I have been working closely with the police, county council and residents on this issue.

Mostly, the issue centres on motorists leaving their cars there all day to access the likes of Edge Hill and the Town Centre. Recently though, I was contacted by residents concerned about the specific problem of parking ‘overspill’ from student properties on Small Lane and Chapel Street.

As you may know, these areas have Residents’ Parking Schemes, meaning the amount of on-street space is limited. Coupled with the increase in occupant numbers of some of these individual properties, many feel this has resulted in an almost permanent overspill affecting Brook Lane.

A few weeks ago, some new ‘To Let’ signs went up on Small Lane and, as a result, I was contacted by residents who raised concerns about newer students bringing their vehicles here, unaware of the pressure already on on-street parking.

With this in mind, I contacted the university to share these concerns with them. I am delighted to report that as a result of raising the issue, they have agreed to do a targeted mail shot to local student homes reminding them of the lack of parking in the hope this may dissuade some.

Edge Hill say this would be in addition to the “clear” messages on its applicant and new student website immediately before the start of each academic year, stating “unequivocally” their recommendation that students should leave their cars at home as parking in the immediate local area is limited. 

As I say, this is a long-standing issue and I shall continue working hard on this issue.

Have your say on Mill Street, Millers Court and School House Green parking plans

Regular readers will know I have been lobbying the authorities hard on the issue of hazardous parking. Two areas which are among the worst are School House Green and Mill Street/Millers Court.

So I was delighted to learn this week that following pressure from myself and colleague County Councillor David Westley, the highways authority has drawn up plans which seeks to alleviate the problems in these areas.

The plans have now been released for public consultation, with them available for public inspection at the Borough Council offices in Derby Street, and residents are being urged to have their say.

I’m pleased there has been some movement on the issue of hazardous parking, something I have been banging on about since being selected as the Conservative candidate for Derby Ward.

In Mill Street and Millers Court, I have been told of instances where bin lorries cannot get to certain properties to collect waste and recycling.

And in School House Green, residents have told me of one incident when a fire engine could not get past cars which were double parked near the junction to Wigan Road.

So in response to this, the County Council has drawn up plans to put ‘no waiting’ restrictions on the junction of Mill Street/Millers Court. And in School House Green, the plan is to put lines at the entrance close to Wigan Road, going towards Oak Green.

I would urge all residents, whether they support or oppose these specific plans, to take the opportunity to have their say on these proposals.

To indicate your support or objection for either proposal, write to The County Secretary and Solicitor, Lancashire County Council, PO Box 78, County Hall, Preston, PR1 8XJ. All comments must be received by February 23, 2011.