Councillors furious again about illegal High Street parking
Wednesday, 28th March 2012.
The impasse over high street pedestrianisation and illegal parking was highlighted again at last night's meeting of Haverhill Town Council, when police again re-iterated the view that barriers were needed.
Cllr Pat Hanlon raised the issue of motorists driving through the street when it is supposed to be closed and parking illegally all through it.
Acting Sgt Carl Edley, representing the town's police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, who was unable to attend, said there had to be a way of preventing access for motorists because it could not be enforced by police.
Town mayor Cllr Maureen Byrne reported the fact that pedestrianisation plans had almost died the death because there was not public support for them at a recent consultation.
She said council members would be contacting residents in their wards to find out whether there was support for it or not, because she was sure many people did want it, but were just confused by the present system so they had become fed up with it.
Cllr Hanlon said illegal parking was causing a complete roadblock at times in both High Street and Queen Street, as things were as bad as they were before the recent police enforcement work.
"It's absolute chaos again," he said. "We're getting nowhere with this. And in April the disabled will have to pay to park in the car parks, so there will be more usage."
Cllr Phillip French said he had counted 25 vehicles parked illegally as he walked alomng High Street that day. "It s absolutely shameful that this situation is going on."
Cllr Gary Stroud raised the issue of young people congregating in various places and then dispersing when police appeared, only to return when they had gone.
He had spoken to them and they had told him they had nowhere to go and were always being moved on by the police.
Acting Sgt Edley said this would be as a result of calls from members of the public disturbed by a group of youths near their homes.
Cllr Stroud said both activities were illegal - youths causing anti-social behaviour and motorists driving and parking illegally, and he asked why the police chose to clamp down on one and not the other.
Cllr Pat Hanlon raised the issue of motorists driving through the street when it is supposed to be closed and parking illegally all through it.
Acting Sgt Carl Edley, representing the town's police chief, Insp Peter Ferrie, who was unable to attend, said there had to be a way of preventing access for motorists because it could not be enforced by police.
Town mayor Cllr Maureen Byrne reported the fact that pedestrianisation plans had almost died the death because there was not public support for them at a recent consultation.
She said council members would be contacting residents in their wards to find out whether there was support for it or not, because she was sure many people did want it, but were just confused by the present system so they had become fed up with it.
Cllr Hanlon said illegal parking was causing a complete roadblock at times in both High Street and Queen Street, as things were as bad as they were before the recent police enforcement work.
"It's absolute chaos again," he said. "We're getting nowhere with this. And in April the disabled will have to pay to park in the car parks, so there will be more usage."
Cllr Phillip French said he had counted 25 vehicles parked illegally as he walked alomng High Street that day. "It s absolutely shameful that this situation is going on."
Cllr Gary Stroud raised the issue of young people congregating in various places and then dispersing when police appeared, only to return when they had gone.
He had spoken to them and they had told him they had nowhere to go and were always being moved on by the police.
Acting Sgt Edley said this would be as a result of calls from members of the public disturbed by a group of youths near their homes.
Cllr Stroud said both activities were illegal - youths causing anti-social behaviour and motorists driving and parking illegally, and he asked why the police chose to clamp down on one and not the other.
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