The reoccurring problem with parking on Cliff Road, which has been safety hazard to wheelchair and pushchair users for years, resurfaced this weekend with the return of warmer weather.
In the summer of 2021 Wilmslow Town Council installed floral planters on the pavement at the bottom of Cliff Road in an attempt to discourage parking on the pavement.
They decided to take action because, whilst this problem started sometime ago, the regularity of such obstructive parking increased during the past two summers.
However, the planters were subsequently removed and relocated due to them repeated vandalism.
PCSO Lisa Gamble said "Cheshire East Council have already acknowledged that the road is dangerous hence the double yellow lines at the location. The prohibiting of parking on the lines incorporates the pavement too.
"As the weather is getting better a request has been made for enforcement from the council."
She added "Local residents are also being asked to report their concerns to the council for a permanent solution."
Wilmslow Town Council Clerk, Matthew Jackson said "We would like to thank the police for taking action in issuing tickets and in doing so deterring further motorists from following suit.
"The problem on Cliff Road pavement is one that only Cheshire East Council can fully resolve as they are the Authority with the powers to install permanent measures to prevent access to the pavement.
"The Town Council has previously moved some of its floral planters on to the pavement to try to find a quick solution however these were consistently attacked and pushed over in the late evenings and were unable to be secured to the ground due to a water holding reservoir in the base.
"The issues on Cliff Road and elsewhere at the weekend have been highlighted to Cheshire East Council on numerous occasions in the past and once again after the weekend, we hope that a permanent solution can be found as soon as possible."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
The cars had warning notices not sure this is any deterent.
There was a very large community group in the park that came equipped for the day with tents and bbq’s. They swamped the car park and the cars then overspilt onto the surrounding roads.
Yellow lines already exist on Cliffe Road, so we don’t have to go through the 18 month process that parliament requires to get new ones installed. This meant that 32 parking tickets were also issued on the day to those cars illegally parked.
Unfortunately, parking tickets don’t remove the cars though or stop someone else from doing the exact same thing next week. The planters that were put there last year as a physical barrier to stop this parking were routinely tipped over on Friday/Saturday nights causing a complete mess. Therefore, they were taken away. They could be re-instated though and backed up with portable CCTV that has recently become an option for the town council to use.
However, a permanent solution is likely to be installed here later this year.
The government has approved the cycle lane from Wilmslow to Handforth and are due to release the funds for its installation later this year (and before anyone asks, no we can’t use the money to fill in potholes. The money is only available if we build cycle lanes). The plan includes routing the cycle lane along Cliff Road and it will have a physical barrier protecting it from other vehicles. This will also stop cars from accessing the pavement as shown in the picture.
Therefore, this should be the final year we have to deal with this ongoing problem.
Cllr Mark Goldsmith
Residents of Wilmslow
Wilmslow West & Chorley
As CEC require vehicular access to this area for maintenance purposes, this could be made possible by a drop-down bollard. I, therefore, suggest that Wilmslow Town Council consider relocating some planters back onto the grassed area adjacent to the memorial garden.