Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
‘Advisory’ white lines are just not enough
Councillors call for better parking enforcement
New road markings i ntended to deter inconsiderate parking have been implemented in a congested area of Coatbridge following a petition by residents – but local councillors are already calling for more stringent action.
Advisory white lines have been painted at junctions in the Dunbeth area, covering streets including Dunbeth Avenue and Kildonan, Portland, Laird, Eglinton and Park streets.
However, Coatbridge North representative Allan Stubbs told North Lanarkshire’s infrastructure committee that it is “already clear the white lines are having no effect”.
The SNP councillor and ward colleague Kirsten Larson asked for immediate moves to be made to put enforceable waiting restrictions in place; but their call was defeated 20-15 in a committee vote.
Last October, the Advertiser told how Dunbeth residents wanted action to stop motorists parking on corners, junctions and pavements in the busy area, which is home to four schools plus New College Lanarkshire.
Infrastructure committee members supported that call in February after being presented with the 176-signature petition, with the non-enforceable lines then being painted around affected junctions.
They were told at their latest meeting: “The introduction of non- statutory white lines around corners at junctions in the Dunbeth Road area has been provided – these lines are not enforceable and only act as indicators of where motorists should not park.
“Monitoring of the effectiveness of these lines will be undertaken until the end of the college term and, if required, waiting restrictions will be promoted.
“To int roduce waiting restrictions, the council is required to undertake a statutory consultation that includes publishing proposals and taking account of any objections received; this process can take up to 18 months or more.”
Councillor Stubbs told committee members: “I know the community was grateful for all the cross-party support to reject [a previous recommendation of ] doing nothing.
“White lines were painted quickly after that, but I’d ask that we don’t wait until the end of the college term as it’s already clear they’re having no effect and we’re delaying for no reason.
“Residents of that area are looking for enforcement to make their lives a bit easier and children a bit safer.”
However, a majority of members agreed with convener Michael McPake, who proposed: “The white lines are down but this isn’t going to give it any time to work – we’ve got to give it a bit of time.”