Railway parking chaos has got to stop
Families demand police get involved to ease congestion
Furious residents are fedup with inconsiderate parking by drivers wanting to park as close as possible to Johnstone train station.
The problem, sparked by new parking restrictions, involves single yellow lines being painted on Fraser Avenue, close to the railway station.
Motorists are unable to park on the avenue between 10am and 2pm, pushing cars onto other streets in the area, particularly Ellerslie Street , Armour Place and Armour Street.
The issue is said to be causing chaos for both residents and those both driving and trying to park in the town centre.
One angry driver told the Paisley Daily Express the double yellows in this street have pushed motorists onto nearby streets, jamming them up.
He said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous.
“People are now parking on Ellerslie Street and Armour Street but they are parking on corners, bumper to bumper.
“Anyone wanting to get out onto Thornhill needs to drive halfway across the road to see what’s coming.
“It’s so dangerous for people living there, and those driving through the area.”
The mass parking stems from the influx of cars trying to get a space as close to Johnstone station as possible.
While extra parking spaces at the station have helped ease the problem in recent times, residents say it is nowhere near solved and the double yellow lines on Overton Crescent are making things worse.
Community councillor Iain McMillan was a strong supporter of the additional parking spaces at the railway station but maintains more needs to be done.
He said: “This is an issue that isn’t going away.
“When you move the problem it just starts up elsewhere. That was always going to be an issue.
“More people are driving and more people are going into Glasgow.
“It’s great that they’re using the station and not everyone is to blame. But something needs to be done about this.”
Mr McMillan thinks the police should step in.
He explained: “People have spoken to the police about this so they do know about it. “Really this is a police matter.” Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “We recognise that the increased number of commuters using Johnstone train station is causing an increase in demand for car parking in the surrounding areas.
“The level of congestion in the area around the station is causing difficulties for local residents and businesses and we have been working with them to introduce suitable measures to address this including a traffic regulation order for Johnstone Station and associate side roads.
“It is important that motorists o b s e r ve these parki n g regulations to ensure there are no obstructions for pedestrians and other road users.”
Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood and Lochwinnoch Councillor Emma Rodden added: “I am consulting with Councillor McEwen and the officers to find effective solutions and welcome any correspondence from residents and business owners with particular issues.”