Car bans in bid to end student parking row
LANCASHIRE County Council has approved the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to deal with the issue of student parking in Ormskirk.
The cabinet of the county council was to pass measures at a meeting today, Thursday, November 15, to introduce additional waiting restrictions on Ruff Lane, Whiteleys Lane and Vicarage Lane and new waiting restrictions on the neighbouring residential streets of Vicarage Close, St James Close, Varlian Close and Wellfield Lane, in Westhead, Ormskirk.
A council report said: “Excessive daytime parking associated with Edge Hill University occurs when parking facilities within the campus are oversubscribed.
“The proposed restrictions have been drawn up to maintain sightlines at junctions and to keep the residential roads sufficiently clear of traffic to allow the properties to be serviced through the period when the university is operational.”
The report added that parking associated with the university has been a concern of local residents for a prolonged period of time, and noted that, in 2012, traffic regulations were introduced to address the issues that were identified at that time.
The council said that since 2012, the parking issue has continued to grow.
The report said: “More recently, parking on the available road space has intensified to the extent that, at times during the day, relatively narrow through routes are ‘double parked’ and every available space in residential cul-desacs is occupied.
“As a result a number of complaints have been received from residents and a scheme to address the obstructive parking was drawn up.
“This sought to protect the cul-de-sac streets by introducing daytime restrictions and placing ‘at any time’ restrictions to protect the junctions with through routes.”
Under the new restrictions, there will be no waiting allowed between 11am and 2pm Monday-Friday on Vicarage Lane, Vicarage Close, St James Close, Varlian Close, Bewcastle Drive and Wellfield Lane.
The council report concluded: “Following informal consultation the plans were revised to address the concerns raised at the residents meeting and the conventional process of formal consultation was followed thereafter.
“It is considered that sufficient notification, information and time has been given to enable residents to raise their concerns.
“A key consideration in considering the introduction of traffic regulations is the safety of all highway users.
“Some of the waiting restrictions are considered necessary to deter motorists from parking where that would either cause an obstruction or reduce sight lines at junctions in such a manner as to cause a potential danger.
“No waiting at any time’ restrictions are considered to be appropriate in these circumstances.
“It is also considered that in some locations limited day time restrictions would be appropriate to deter parking which could cause significant obstruction during the working day and this will keep the impact on local residents to a minimum.”