Residents and businesses in and around Cumberland Close will have to wait and see what’s decided by the authorities – now that their views on how to solve the local parking problem have been submitted.
It follows long-standing frustration that inconsiderate parkers on both sides of this residential cul-de-sac, off Easthorpe Street, were frequently blocking residents’ driveways, obstructing pavements and narrowing the road to such an extent that wider vehicles servicing the properties could not get through. Face-to-face confrontation between residents and car users ensued – followed by damage to vehicles and near-misses with pedestrians – leading to residents contacting both the police and Nottinghamshire County Council about the worsening issue.
Ruddington Parish Council agreed to back whatever scheme residents of the Close favoured to resolve this problem – which, during this official public consultation, turned out to be a slight variation of the new parking restrictions proposed last month by VIA East Midlands on behalf of the County Council.
As reported last month, VIA suggested that a further thirty or so metres of Cumberland Close would have current double-yellow lines extended. The remainder would get single yellows – allowing parking there only from 5pm until 9am. This idea was greeted with dismay by some residents on Easthorpe Street who have no dedicated parking – as well as being bad news for nearby hospitality businesses who rely on this parking for customers.
The local residents’ group had originally suggested to the County Council a ‘permit parking’ system for Cumberland Close. As the authority was evidently not receptive to this idea, they proposed their own modified version of VIA’s planned restrictions, as shown below:-
The residents’ alternative suggestions, submitted to the consultation, were:
- To allow parking at all times on the West side of Cumberland Close. We do not think the No Waiting from 9am to 5pm will have any effect on the parking situation. This will allow residents without street parking on Easthorpe Street, users of the pubs and takeaways ,to park their cars in a safe and regulated manner.
- Extend the No Waiting at all times (double yellow line) all along the East side of Cumberland Close. This will prevent pavement parking and narrowing of the street.
- Increase enforcement of present parking and future parking restrictions, as current enforcement seems to be lacking.
Their response adds: “Increased car ownership means more car drivers are driving and parking to shop, visit pubs and restaurants in the areas already built up with housing. Most car drivers drive and park with respect and courtesy to fellow road users and house occupants. However, a significant minority leave their vehicles in such a way that they obstruct and damage other vehicles and pedestrians using Cumberland Close. It was never the intention of local residents to oppose parking in the Close. It was the inconsiderate way in which the cars are parked that causes obstruction.”
All the responses submitted by the 7th September 2021 deadline to Via East Midlands’ Improvements Manager, Steph Walford, are now being considered – to decide on what action, if any, should be taken on implementing extra Cumberland Close parking restrictions, and what form these will take.
{Photos courtesy of Gary Choo}
