Conflict over new parking rules

“Abusive” drivers have taken to ‘parking in residents’ spaces and blocking driveways’ in a part of Telford after being forced out of on street spots by newly painted yellow lines, a meeting heard.

New parking rules have been brought in across Hollinswood & Randlay in recent weeks to deal with town centre workers and shoppers who have been leaving their cars all day in residential areas, especially on Deercote.

Deercote is just a short walk away from Telford town centre’s shops and businesses.

But a meeting of Hollinswood & Randlay Parish Council heard that free parking is so attractive to some that the problem has been “displaced” to other parts of the same area.

The meeting heard of one resident who has bought an e-bike so they do not have to move their car out and risk losing one of the precious remaining free spots.

Councillors reported that residents have been “really upset” after challenging people over parking who then became “abusive.”

They were told that one resident is so worried about losing his space if he moves his car “that he got an e-bike so he doesn’t have to move it.”

Clerk Katrina Baker told the meeting on Monday (Nov 17) that new lines have been painted across Hollinswood to deal with “unofficial parking” caused by “people using the shops in the town centre.”

Officials at Telford & Wrekin Council took action against “obstructive commuter parking” after receiving “public and stakeholder enquiries” over an 18 month period, consultation documents show.

The meeting was told that the parish council has now received complaints from both residents and “people who think they ought to park there.”

The clerk said the lines have lead to “displacement” of parking “into official spaces for the flats.”

It has also led to some residents being “blocked in their driveways”, the meeting was told.

She added that Telford & Wrekin Councils is monitoring concerns and complaints and the issues will be reviewed “after Christmas”.

“We can bring our concerns and respond as a parish council,” she said.

Councillor Sophia Vaughan-Hodkinson asked whether spaces could be provided in town centre car parks for employees.

“I’ve never seen their car parks full,” she said.

Clerk’s assistant Stuart Fisher said the borough council will be reviewing the situation.

“They will take feedback into account and either let the restrictions stay, remove them or improve them,” he said.

Mr Fisher added that if drivers were blocking drives it is classified as “obstruction” and should be reported to the police.