New fears on college road chaos
RESIDENTS and councillors are worried that the annual Ormskirk parking chaos, caused by the return of Edge Hill University students, will continue this year.
Derby Ward councillor Adrian Owens believes that Lancashire parking services are frustrating co-ordinated action and has asked transport portfolio holder John Fillis to intervene.
Cllr Owens said: “It’s entirely predictable that the residential streets around the university will experience dangerous and obstructive parking in the first few weeks of the academic year.
“That’s why the local police and I raised the matter at the Freshers’ Group Meeting with a host of agencies in June.
“Since then, borough council officers and the local police sergeant have provided information about the streets affected, but the response from Lancashire Parking Services has been dismissive. I discovered earlier this year that parking enforcement resources had been deliberately removed from West Lancashire in favour of Preston and other areas, but start of year parking around Edge Hill is a predictable problem and as council taxpayers we should expect a positive response from Lancashire Parking Services.”
Cllr Owens has now written to Cllr Fillis requesting he gets involved.
Cllr Owens said: “Cllr Fillis lives in Ormskirk. He knows full well the problems caused at the start of the academic year with parking.
“For the sake of road safety and the amenity of local residents, he needs to get West Lancashire our fair share of parking enforcement time and ensure Lancashire Parking Services plays a positive role in the same way that every other local agency does with freshers planning.”
Cllr Fillis said: “Cllr Owens may have missed the improvement work that was undertaken on Moorgate. Along with this, we had to remove all previous parking restrictions within the town as they were clearly not working.
“A new parking enforcement strategy was then put into place that has greatly improved the safety and environment of the pedestrianised area of the town.
“Most people who use Ormskirk will tell you that the town centre has improved due to the new parking management arrangement put in by Lancashire County Council.
“These improvements resulted in a reduction in reported enforcement during 2015/16 for a period when the improvement work was being carried out and re-regulation was being introduced.
“Cllr Owens’ attempts at misleading the public by claiming that resources were moved to Preston is ridiculous; the people of Ormskirk deserve better. Lancashire County Council has and will continue to work with West Lancashire Borough and Lancashire Police to improve service for local people.”