New bid to solve parking problem

Yellow lines plan for Cambusbarron street

A parking hotspot in Cambusbarron has been earmarked for restrictions again a year after the idea was rejected.

Stirling Council roads officials believe double yellow lines on part of the road are the only answer if access issues are to be resolved at Douglas Terrace.

Last year the council’sv planning panel rejected the idea by a majority but asked for the case to be brought back for review in less than a year.

Yesterday (Tuesday) the panel was updated by officials, who said little had changed since the last discussion.

One letter and a phone call had been submitted from concerned residents and local councillor Scott Farmer has forwarded two emails received from locals.

Cambusbarron Community Council also asked for the review to take place.

The matter was originally brought to the panel because of split opinions in the community.

Locals had reported “stand-up verbal fights” between residents and drivers.

Some Cambusbarron residents had also complained over access to neighbouring streets, including occasions when delivery vehicles were unable to get to their destination and problems for funeral processions to the local cemetery.

However, other residents strongly opposed the parking restriction, saying it was unnecesssary as long as locals parked responsibly and close to the kerb.

Councillor Chris Kane said: “This situation has been going on for some time. We seem to have some evidence of emergency vehicles not getting up there but then others say they can.

“How much is down to the width of vehicles and how much to just bad parking?. If I was parking a Hummer there it would be difficult but not if I was parking a Mini.

“It seems just to have double yellow lines is what we are looking at but I can’t see why we can’t look at whether marking out parking bays may solve this as people would have to ensure their vehicle fits within the lines.”

Roads officials said two houses are directly affected at the pinchpoint of the road and one of the vehicles is owned by a disabled person, who had been offered a disabled parking bay but had refused it as it would have been further away from where they normally park their car.

Other problems include tree preservation orders.

Asked by Councillor Maureen Bennison if hearses had problems getting to Cambusbarron Cemetery, the officials said funeral directors had not reported any issues.

They added that if double yellow lines were created it would affect two car parking spaces, “at a push three”, so moving the problem to other streets should not be an issue and the vehicles could be acommodated further up the street.

The panel agreed to ask officers to promote a new waiting restrictions order and consultation with all streets affected.

If there are objections to the order it would go back to the panel for discussion, which roads officials expect to happen.