PARKING MAD
Council’s plan to ban ALL cars from Hamilton street leaves residents outraged
Council roads bosses have been blasted after proposals to ban cars from a Hamilton residential street were revealed.
Residents of Montrose Crescent were left furious after learning they would have to move their own vehicles if plans from South Lanarkshire Council go ahead.
The local authority has proposed a “waiting restriction” from 10am to 3pm in response to complaints about “indiscriminate” parking.
Residents of a Hamilton street have hit out after learning of a “ridiculous”car ban proposal from South Lanarkshire Council.
The local authority responded to complaints about “indiscriminate” parking on Montrose Crescent with a proposal to ban cars from the street for five hours a day, Monday to Friday.
It was hoped the plans would put an end to the obstructions regularly caused in the area by non-residents parking in the street, however, fed-up locals say it is a step too far.
Gayle Rooney Doherty, a resident of Montrose Crescent for 13 years, has been rallying neighbours to oppose the plans.
The mum-of-three said: “The proposal means that the street would have to be cleared from 10 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon. This will include the residents of the street – it’s awful.
“This is a residential street, and the council are proposing that we the residents will need to move our vehicles off the street every day.
“There’s 53 houses on the street that would be affected. All in, there’s about 50 cars, and only 13 houses have driveways.
“The council can’t tell us an alternative of where to park. The nearest available streets would be Linden Lea or May Street, but they have parking issues there as well.”
Gayle works shifts as a district nurse, and said the restriction would cause an inconvenience for her during normal working weeks, and particularly during holiday times.
She added: “It would especially be a nightmare while on holiday for example, as you would have to park somewhere else and just leave your car there the whole time.
“I have equipment in my car for work that costs thousands of pounds, and I like to have it parked close to my house so I know that it’s safe.
“The biggest thing I think everyone would want would be a permit.”
Hamilton North and East councillor Davie Mclachlan says he has been working with residents of Montrose Crescent to find a solution to the problem parking.
He told the Advertiser: “While I welcome the proposal to address the many concerns raised over a number of years, I do have concerns at the measures proposed in the Traffic Regulation Order.
“I have had countless complaints as the area has suffered from indiscriminate and illegal parking resulting in limited access for larger vehicles meaning bin trucks haven’t always been able to get access and on a more serious note, the same could be said for fire engines if the unthinkable had happened.
“I have been meeting with officials to find a way forward and the result of that is the current proposal to restrict parking, but I don’t think that goes far enough.
“The area is completely surrounded by roads that already have parking restrictions meaning this part of Montrose Crescent gets overly abused because of the lack of parking restriction.
“Workers and visitors attending the many businesses in the area come to Montrose Crescent as a last resort when all other parking provision is exhausted and this has to stop.”
He added: “Restricting the parking between 10am and 3pm will have an adverse effect on local residents who don’t have off-street parking and will be forced to park their cars in remote locations from their own homes.
“Therefore it is my view that only a residents’ parking scheme should be introduced to the area, reflecting the privilege enjoyed by other residents in nearby locations.”
South Lanarkshire Council said exemptions would be made to the order for blue badge holders and the emergency services.
Head of Roads and Transportation, Gordon Mackay, said: “The proposed waiting restrictions for Montrose Crescent have been brought forward in response to residents’ concerns about indiscriminate parking by nonresidents causing congestion and, at times, obstructing access during the working day.
“The waiting restriction, as proposed, would be in force from 10am to 3pm. The proposed order includes various exemptions for blue badge holders, emergency services, and others such as medical personnel and delivery drivers who might have good reason to park a vehicle in the area for short periods.
“These proposals are at the public consultation stage at present and we would welcome the views of local residents.”
The biggest thing I think everyone would want is a permit