High Street traffic fiasco infuriates councillors
Friday, 19th February 2010.
Councillors furious about unenforced parking regulations in Haverhill High Street heard that a promised police clampdown on offenders lasted just one day because of a legal technicality.
PCSO Chris Strahm explained enforcing traffic regulations in High Street was made a police priority and the clampdown was publicised, but after one day of it St Edmundsbury Borough Council complained to the police that the restrictions they were enforcing were not legal.
It appeared the restrictions indicated on Suffolk County Council's signage were not accurate, so the enforcement had to be abandoned.
Cllr Paul McManus told members at Haverhill Town Council meeting on Tuesday that the issue was a very serious one and needed to be addressed, and he particularly complained about parking on double yellow lines.
"Parking in High Street is disgraceful and there is no evidence of anyone doing anything about it," he said. "It is unbelievably dangerous with mothers and prams nearly being knocked down."
PCSO Strahm said it was frustrating for police because of the difficulty of establishing exactly what constituted parking.
Loading and unloading is allowed and if a motorist returns to their car and claims to have been doing anything which could fall within that, they cannot be penalised.
Exactly what constitutes loading and unloading has yet to be tested in court.
Town council leader Cllr Anne Gower, who is also a county councillor, said: "The existing order is unworkable because of the definition of loading and unloading."
Cllr McManus said: "So double yellow lines are a complete waste of paint."
Another Haverhill county councillor, Tim Marks, attending as a member of the public, said: "No amount of yellow lines cures parking problems. It depends on the willingness of the citizens of Haverhill to co-operate and make the town a better place to live."
PCSO Strahm assured councillors that the restrictions would be redrawn, although that will only help to stop unauthorised access, rather than parking.
PCSO Chris Strahm explained enforcing traffic regulations in High Street was made a police priority and the clampdown was publicised, but after one day of it St Edmundsbury Borough Council complained to the police that the restrictions they were enforcing were not legal.
It appeared the restrictions indicated on Suffolk County Council's signage were not accurate, so the enforcement had to be abandoned.
Cllr Paul McManus told members at Haverhill Town Council meeting on Tuesday that the issue was a very serious one and needed to be addressed, and he particularly complained about parking on double yellow lines.
"Parking in High Street is disgraceful and there is no evidence of anyone doing anything about it," he said. "It is unbelievably dangerous with mothers and prams nearly being knocked down."
PCSO Strahm said it was frustrating for police because of the difficulty of establishing exactly what constituted parking.
Loading and unloading is allowed and if a motorist returns to their car and claims to have been doing anything which could fall within that, they cannot be penalised.
Exactly what constitutes loading and unloading has yet to be tested in court.
Town council leader Cllr Anne Gower, who is also a county councillor, said: "The existing order is unworkable because of the definition of loading and unloading."
Cllr McManus said: "So double yellow lines are a complete waste of paint."
Another Haverhill county councillor, Tim Marks, attending as a member of the public, said: "No amount of yellow lines cures parking problems. It depends on the willingness of the citizens of Haverhill to co-operate and make the town a better place to live."
PCSO Strahm assured councillors that the restrictions would be redrawn, although that will only help to stop unauthorised access, rather than parking.
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