Cheshire East Council is proposing to make a number of changes to the parking restrictions on Chapel Lane and Lindow Parade which were discussed at a meeting of Wilmslow Town Council's Planning Committee on Tuesday, 30th August.
The proposals include introducing a two hour waiting limit, between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday, and no return within an hour at Lindow Parade. Two parking spaces close to the junction with Buckingham Road will be removed and replaced with two new spaces further down the road. Additionally no parking will be prohibited on one side of Chapel Lane between Birch Avenue and Fulshaw Avenue.
Speaking at the meeting Councillor Gary Barton explained "People who use Chapel Lane a lot will be aware of the problems with people parking and trying to get from one end to the other in a car are quite severe and I've been approached by quite a number of people about that.
"So what this is trying to do is clear up ground for traffic around the junction with Buckingham Road by removing two parking bays immediately opposite that junction which create problems and actually blocks access to a driveway of one of those properties. So that's being moved partly so the person can get to their drive and partly so we don't have two cars parked opposite a busy junction and it will hopefully free traffic a bit there.
"We are aware the traders don't want to see fewer spaces so those two spaces are being replicated slightly further down closer to Peter Herds so there is no net loss of spaces."
He added "At Lindow Parade presently there is no restriction on parking. Those spaces are meant for the local businesses but because of the increasing problem of all day commuter parkers and people using the airport and station etc the reason for putting a two hour limit is to give people ample time to shop but stop people from using it as an all day spot as we want it to be there of the shops.
"Further down Chapel Lane to clear up traffic flow around Fulshaw Avenue where you've presently got problems with the buses which can't pass on Chapel Lane between Fulshaw Avenue and Birch Avenue because there's unrestricted parking on either side so this is to try and make sure cars are only on one side so the buses can get down the road properly and to try and ease traffic flow."
Members of the Planning Committee had no objections to the proposals.
Councillor Keith Chapman commented "All of traders I spoke to on the phone thought it looked fantastic. The traders on Lindow Parade thought it was a great idea."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
@Tim Rowe: I agree about the need for need for policing the restrictions. Once the new restrictions are in place I will be asking the traffic wardens to increase patrols in the Chapel Lane area.
Areas like this need some strict restrictions and residents parking permits where needed. Perhaps some of these cars could be parked on drives as residents of Chapel Lane also park on the pavement.
Wardens seem to concentrate on the centre of town and ignore all day parking anywhere else.
Although they are perfectly entitled to do so, the road cannot cope with the requirements of a local shopping centre, on road parking, and the general disgrard of restrictions on parking. Laughable how things have changed on Buckingham Road, it was so 'fast' they had to slow traffic down by installing a 'red centre section'. Now it's a car park, after cars were moved on from 'other parts' of Wilmslow.
The restrictions around the junction of Chapel Lane and Buckingham Road may as well be invisible, as they are largely ignored.
As for parking on pavements, it's now not uncommon to see vehicles drive across the pavement, on the textured pedestrian pavement' near the Next Chemist on Chapel Lane, as though it was a slipway - once they have negotiated the 6ft planters.
Drivers have also decided that Nursery Lane is no longer 'One Way', with drivers either reversing or simply driving out after being to wherever.
Still, I shouldn't complain as I know that the law is on the case of our ex-Council leader, how's that going by the way?
It is time that pavements should be restored to their primary use, i.e. a safe passage for pedestrians. Anyone that ignores this should have to serve a minimum of 14 hours community service. I'm sure a weekend of picking up litter around the town would help in many ways.
When it comes to safety is should be pedestrians first, then cyclists, then motorists. However, with the pathetic enforcement you would be forgiven for thinking it was the opposite. It is about time local government, and central government used some common sense and protect the more vulnerable.
I often travel to London and after about 9:00 there is no prospect of getting a place at Broadway Meadows, Spring Street is often full, leaving parking on residential streets, a significant way from the station the only option.