Call for action on cars left on lines overnight

7:00am Wednesday 12th December 2012 in Witney Photograph of the Author By Tom Jennings, covering Witney and West Oxfordshire. Call me on 01865 425403

Councillor Andrew Coles with illegally parked cars in Corn Street, Witney Buy this photo » Councillor Andrew Coles with illegally parked cars in Corn Street, Witney

A PARKING free-for-all in Witney has prompted calls for wardens’ shifts to be extended into the evening.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s community wardens work between 8am and 6pm, leading to parking on double yellow lines out-of-hours.

In Corn Street, motorists frequently park on double yellow lines in the evenings between the Market Square junction and the first set of bollards.

Councillor Andrew Coles said drivers are being forced to mount the kerb and it is only a matter of time before someone is hurt.

The district council said it would look into the issue and said on occasion wardens do work into the evening to carry out targeted enforcement.

Mr Coles, district council Labour member for Witney Central, said: “There is quite a serious public safety concern because a number of vehicles are forced on to the pavement in order to get through on the road because it is so jammed up by illegally parked cars.

“It is particularly bad in the evening once the parking wardens finish for the day. On Thursday night I counted 10 cars illegally parked.

“I would like to see some wardens working into the evenings to do random and spontaneous checks.”

Related links

Chief Inspector Colin Paine, area commander for West Oxfordshire, said: “I am more than happy to support their wardens as and when we receive requests to do so.”

Witney Traffic Advisory Committee chairman Jim King, who is also a Witney Town Council member, said: “It is dangerous there because, with cars parked along the road, you are trying to get three lanes of traffic through.”

Mr King said he would also like to see the traffic bollards along Corn Street removed to improve the illegal parking situation and the flow of traffic.

But Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council cabinet member for transport, said the bollards were installed to improve public safety and would not be removed.

He said: “Do you want speed to go up and have someone killed because of a speeding car?”

The district council head of community services Bill Oddy said the authority had been informed there could be a problem in Corn Street and it would look into it.

The council took over enforcing parking regulations in the district from police in January 2010.

Comments(13)

Myron Blatz says...
8:00am Wed 12 Dec 12

Maybe one solution to parking might be to empower the Police to cover for when the Wardens are off-duty. Another might be to have the offending vehicles towed-away to a Police car-pound, where the offending motorists would have to pay to get their vehicle back, on top of the fine for having illegally parked, and perhaps three points added to their driving licence for good measure.

Report this post »

the wizard says...
8:10am Wed 12 Dec 12

The area between both sets of bollards and road narrowing has always been the a haven for illegal parking. During the day it is like a slalom course and the fact that it is on a main bus route doesn't help. Its time for this area to be made NO PARKING at any time and enforced totally. The introduction of the narrowing scheme has not been totally successful and if Rodney Rose thinks it is then he is mistaken. It would be better served as being one way, exit from Market Square only, with parking for deliveries on one side only. Welsh Way and Station Lane provide useable alternatives, and of course the ultimate deterrent, "Book 'em Danno"

Report this post »

xjohnx says...
9:02am Wed 12 Dec 12

Would tow and dump work?

Obstructing the highway is already an offense and the authorities are required to keep the highway clear.

Ticketing and/or police action costs us money.

Report this post »

the wizard says...
12:34pm Wed 12 Dec 12

xjohnx wrote:
Would tow and dump work?

Obstructing the highway is already an offense and the authorities are required to keep the highway clear.

Ticketing and/or police action costs us money.
Cost for the police is already covered as they are already present, and use this road. Would tow and dump work, yes of course, once the word is out people will avoid it like the plague, hence desired result. It not as if enough free parking isn't available, just 100 yds away most of Church green and the rest of Corn St is available, free. just laziness on the part of the few who spoil it for the rest, nail 'em, and nail 'em hard, in the pocket.

Report this post »

King Joke says...
12:38pm Wed 12 Dec 12

No enforcement regime will ever work in Witney, because unrestricted parking at all times and in all places is an assumed right in this part of the world. Any cracking down will result in special pleading from some quarter, as was in evidence recently when disabled groups protested at removing some disabled spaces to try and help buses through Witney's chaotic streets.

Witney is a beautiful town which is absolutely destroyed by its pretty streets being perpetually clogged with moving or parking traffic, and it's a nightmare for buses and cyclists. People there appear to like it that way however so don't expect things to change any time soon.

Report this post »

T? says...
1:41pm Wed 12 Dec 12

Rodney Rose obviously hasn't a clue about how unsafe those bollards are... How many times do you see cars/cyclists crossing the roundabout to enter corn street to be met by an oncoming car/bus/bus/van that feels they have the right of way over those bollards...
Its especially scary being the cyclist and then having to put up with enraged drivers who threaten to get out of their car, as they feel they have right of way!!!....
Perhaps Rodders needs to spend some time in Witney to workout that those bollards need to be removed and traffic to be two ways entering the roundabout, and then slap a no parking ban on that narrow part of corn street!

Report this post »

davyboy says...
4:55pm Wed 12 Dec 12

double yellow lines mean no waiting/parking at any time, and therefore tickets should be issued. if wardens are not on duty, then ticket and tow should be operated. once word gets out that cars WILL be towed, then people will stop parking there. the thing is, it cannot be as and when, but a permenent fixture. double yellows are put in places where parking will cause a nuisance or obstruction, and must be obeyed.

Report this post »

King Joke says...
5:15pm Wed 12 Dec 12

Yes but Davy, there is a legal five-minute grace period, technically for observation, which applies to yellow lines. Because of this they tend to get used for convenient short-stay parking even where they are enforced.

THe only way you can stamp out the problem is by having a red route, but I suspect there would be little appetite for this in Witney.

Report this post »

Myron Blatz says...
11:51pm Wed 12 Dec 12

OK, so how about 'Tow-it + Crush-it' instead?

Report this post »

King Joke says...
8:39am Thu 13 Dec 12

Ha ha love it Myron - I'd give it two days tops before you saw the first disabled pensioner on the front cover of the OM looking glum, because they'd parked on double yellows on a corner to buy medecine for their terminally-ill granddaughter etc etc and had their car towed away.

I'm afraid public opinion is not on the side of law and order when it comes to parking, and the local press love stirring it up.

Report this post »

the wizard says...
9:16am Thu 13 Dec 12

T? wrote:
Rodney Rose obviously hasn't a clue about how unsafe those bollards are... How many times do you see cars/cyclists crossing the roundabout to enter corn street to be met by an oncoming car/bus/bus/van that feels they have the right of way over those bollards...
Its especially scary being the cyclist and then having to put up with enraged drivers who threaten to get out of their car, as they feel they have right of way!!!....
Perhaps Rodders needs to spend some time in Witney to workout that those bollards need to be removed and traffic to be two ways entering the roundabout, and then slap a no parking ban on that narrow part of corn street!
That is why it should be one way only in favour of traffic exiting Market Square, all the way to Holloway Road with exemption through displayed permit for residents only.

Report this post »

the wizard says...
9:19am Thu 13 Dec 12

King Joke wrote:
No enforcement regime will ever work in Witney, because unrestricted parking at all times and in all places is an assumed right in this part of the world. Any cracking down will result in special pleading from some quarter, as was in evidence recently when disabled groups protested at removing some disabled spaces to try and help buses through Witney's chaotic streets.

Witney is a beautiful town which is absolutely destroyed by its pretty streets being perpetually clogged with moving or parking traffic, and it's a nightmare for buses and cyclists. People there appear to like it that way however so don't expect things to change any time soon.
Things should change and as per normal the vast majority uphold the law its just the few as per usual spoiling it for the rest. They are usually called Richard Cranium and they are abundant throughout this country. Just to make matters worse they get promoted to lofty positions just to get them out of the way of those that matter.

Report this post »

King Joke says...
9:34am Thu 13 Dec 12

Richard Cranium - PMSL :-)

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree