Children and elderly forced onto the road by 'selfish' parkers

Parents with prams were forced to walk in the road on Sunday, 8th May, as a row of cars completely blocked the pavement alongside Cliff Road.

The car park was full as families had flocked to The Carrs to enjoy the lovely weather so members of the public started parking illegally on the pavement, leaving no room for pedestrians.

Police officers attended and issued a five fixed penalty notices (£30 ) and four advisory notices (warnings), one officer was also seen escorting a dad and his children up the middle of the road.

Christopher Walker, who provided the photos above, said "Now I am not Victor Meldrew but this really did annoy me as it was obvious these selfish people had entirely blocked the path causing families with prams and kids to have to go onto the road at a blind bend where I have regularly seen cars speed to get up the hill. Not that they need to but its like they feel they need to take a run at it.

"I actually went home as I live on Mount Pleasant and came back to take photos. In one picture you can see a police officer having to escort a man with his tiny kids and a pram on the road while cars are held back behind."

Christopher added "As I said I live on Mount Pleasant at the top of this hill where these people could park legally and the walk to the park is two minutes. Instead because they are the sort of people that give Wilmslow a bad name for its selfish drivers, they decide they can't possible walk so park illegally putting kids and elderly people at risk of being killed in the road.

"Later the same day I was driving past and saw an elderly man on a mobility scooter who couldn't pass and I actually parked up and went to see if I could help him. He told me he had no idea what he should do and had called the police. What if he had needed to get home for the bathroom or had gone into the road where he would have found there was no pavement ramp until right at the top on Styal Road.

"This clearly is a huge waste of police time and I would rather these people had their cars impounded."

Sergeant John O'Driscoll said "Police also have the power to remove vehicles on a low loader, although none were removed in this way on Sunday."

"The location has featured before and will continue to do so as the weather improves. Police are looking longer term with the council to install bollards to stop vehicles gaining access to the pavement."

He added "Police will continue to address issues around Carrs park over the coming months as the popularity of the park increases with the warmer weather. I would urge motorists to park in the approved bays within the park and not to park on the nearby pavement areas which causes an obstruction to pedestrians. Any motorists who flout this advice are liable to a fine and potentially removal of their vehicle and liability for the costs incurred".

Tags:
Cliff Road, Parking, Parking , The Carrs
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

John Currie
Thursday 11th May 2017 at 7:42 pm
Perhaps the police could visit the top end of Knutsford Road and Alderley Road north of the Kings Arms roundabout?
Peter Evans
Thursday 11th May 2017 at 7:42 pm
Excellent article - thank you so much for sharing this and to Christopher Walker for the photos. This is appalling behaviour by the car owners, totally selfish and arrogant. It is also very common place right across Wilmslow - for example, some people seem to think using hazard lights means you can park on double yellow lines and simultaneously block the pavement.
So, here's my suggestion - let's have a name and shame campaign: photos of shamelessly parked cars on this website every week, reg nos shown?
Any thoughts?
Diane Walker
Thursday 11th May 2017 at 8:54 pm
I totally agree Peter. Reg number on this photo should not have been covered. This behaviour is typical of lazy, selfish individuals!
Dave Cash
Friday 12th May 2017 at 3:09 am
The FPN should have been for £70 (for DYLs), discounted to £35 if paid within 14 days.
What is more alarming is the app lack of control over the young child walking alongside the pushchair.
Were Police at top of hill, warning descending drivers of 'walking' obstruction?

A disaster averted, no thanks to parked motorists, whom I hope all paid their Penalties.
A metal fence for full length of hill, may be preferable to occ bollards.
David Hoyle
Friday 12th May 2017 at 7:24 am
Tow the cars away.That will soon sort the problem out.
David Pearce
Friday 12th May 2017 at 10:33 am
So fixed penalty fines are enforceable for pavement parking! Surely a local publicity campaign highlighting this would help to deter such abuse especially by the all day parking fraternity who clog up side streets and especially pavements during the working week.
James MacDonald
Friday 12th May 2017 at 11:44 am
This is common all over Wilmslow and probably every town. It is time for pedestrians to rise up and return pavements to their intended use. We could start this by organising large groups to walk in the middle of the road with signs to explain why. If we can't use the pavements, then vehicles can't use the road. The message might sink in then.
Christopher Walker
Friday 12th May 2017 at 12:23 pm
Hi it's like I said when I sent this in. I walked past this and on getting home thought "but what if a kid gets killed or hurt and I have done nothing to change something I can see is dangerous" .so that's why I went back to take the photos and tweet it. I don't really ever tweet things and this worked at least in awareness. I am not sure what's the best platform to put such pictures but I think you should. Just to try and stop the chance of someone being hurt and to shame those who think it's ok.
Last week I watched a lady back her 4x4 into another car to park and she knew she had done it but carried on like it was ok.
Problem with twitter is it's only one photo a time and you need at least three.
Anne Greenhalgh
Thursday 18th May 2017 at 12:28 am
I spent my childhood going down the Carrs & although I appreciate there are far more cars on the roads these days cannot believe the selfishness of drivers parking on the pavement going up the Cliff. The Carrs is within walking distance for most local people, either parking on Church St or on Hawthorn Lane or at a pinch Waitrose car park!
David Nelson
Saturday 20th May 2017 at 8:43 am
Disgusting, selfish, ignorant drivers. Not untypical of Wilmslow. Bring on the bollards and ensure pavements are returned to pedestrians​.