Parking spaces make way for new cycle route
FEARS THAT DOUBLE YELLOW LINES WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON LOCAL BUSINESSES
DOUBLE yellow lines are to be installed along a road in Beeston, as part of ongoing plans for a new cycle route and footpath.
As well as widening the existing pavement on Humber Road, Beeston, Nottinghamshire County Council has also given the go-ahead for double yellow lines to be added.
But concerns have been raised that less parking availability will have an impact on local businesses.
The “No Waiting At Any Time” restrictions were approved on Thursday by the communities and place committee. The double yellow lines will be installed on the southern part of Humber Road in addition to existing double yellow lines between the junctions of Queens Road and Queens Drive.
Committee chairman Councillor John Cottee said the advantages of the cycle route would outweigh the concerns of less parking in the area.
He added: “Widening of the existing pavement will ensure the new shareduse pavement will be wide enough to safely accommodate both pedestrians and two-way cycle traffic.”
“These restrictions will ensure that vehicles are not parked on both sides of Humber Road as this would prevent two-way traffic flow of vehicles along the road,” added Mr Cottee.
An assessment of Humber Road indicated that sufficient parking exists on the road to accommodate any displaced vehicles, so no significant impact is anticipated with parking on other streets in the vicinity.
But Aidan Trimble, owner of the Dojo Karate Centre in Humber Road had a different view. The 58-year-old said: “I went to the initial meetings and knew straight away that it would make it very difficult for anyone who lives or works in the area. I think the money allocated to this would have been better spent improving the roads.
“There is not enough parking in Beeston as it is, so I think this will have quite an impact on the businesses who use this road.”
But Andrew Martin, who works with Nottingham cycling campaign group Pedals, said: “It’s probably a good thing, but obviously subject to the detail of the design, enforcement of the route, and if it’s well signposted.
“There are always reservations when a new cycle route is put in, but of course it’s good to hear of improvements to roads. Cyclists quite often deal with parked vehicles, or loading vehicles so this will certainly help with that.”
Extensive public consultation took place in 2017 regarding planned improvements to cycle links from the Enterprise Zone (Boots site) to Beeston town centre.
The city and county councils worked in partnership, along with the Nottinghamshire Cycling Development Group, Highways England and the police to develop a package of improvements to help people access the Enterprise Zone.
This partnership resulted in the development of nearly £1m of improvements to cycle routes in the county. These will join up proposals in the city aimed at creating continuous cycle routes across council boundaries giving people access to job opportunities that the Enterprise Zone will deliver. The no-waiting restrictions will be implemented via a related traffic regulation order.