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Permits could end Highfield Road parking blight
PEOPLE living one of the area's busiest residential streets could soon see the end of a major parking headache - but they may have to pay for it.
Residents of Highfield Road, in Prestwich, which is close to the Longfield Centre, have been complaining to Bury Council for more than decade about traffic chaos.
Traffic officers have tried various schemes to ease congestion and make the area safer, but none of the measures has solved the problem.
The latest idea. which is set to ease traffic misery for frustrated motorists, is to make the street a resident-only parking zone.
A consultation process, which is likely include a survey involving everyone living in the area and a public meeting, is due to be held in the next few months, but councillors admit the plan will not be popular with everyone, as it carries a £20-per-vehicle price tag.
Holyrood ward councillor Vic D'Albert said: "The traffic situation was bad on this street five or six years ago, but since the very popular supermarkets and cafes have arrived in the area around Prestwich Village, it has become an absolute state.
"People park all day down both sides of the road and it's very hard for residents to find a place to park and for motorists to navigate down the road.
"The situation isn't helped by the fact that people didn't drive at safe speeds.
"To its credit, the council did bring in traffic-calming measures and has tried to encourage drivers to park closer to the Longfield Centre, but there is only so much you can do."
After residents renewed their concerns at a meeting of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, traffic officers drew up a report suggesting possible solutions.
One of them was a parking zone, which would effectively ban shoppers and other non-residents from leaving their vehicles there.
Bury Council bosses admit the introduction of such a zone is a long way off.
But they say existing areas have permits costing £20 per vehicle per year.
A Bury Council spokeswoman said: "At present, we are holding discussions with ward councillors to determine how it will be best to carry out a consultation exercise.
"The priority is to determine how many people this problem affects.
"If the majority of residents are affected then we would take it on from there."
At present, there are no residents-only parking zones in Prestwich or Whitefield.
There are several close to Bury town centre and Fairfield Hospital.
5:51pm Thursday 27th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: susie, bury on 6:54am Fri 28 Mar 08
about parking
fairfield hospital is a night mare, more so for disabled with app/ to keep and carnt walk very farr.
wy not put car park charges to use and build 2 muli-story car parks, one at each end of hos/ site;
about parking
fairfield hospital is a night mare, more so for disabled with app/ to keep and carnt walk very farr.
wy not put car park charges to use and build 2 muli-story car parks, one at each end of hos/ site;
Posted by: raggie bob, heywood on 1:38pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]susie[/bold] wrote:
about parking fairfield hospital is a night mare, more so for disabled with app/ to keep and carnt walk very farr. wy not put car park charges to use and build 2 muli-story car parks, one at each end of hos/ site;[/quote] i agree with susie something needs to be done , thats a good idea ,
susie wrote:
about parking fairfield hospital is a night mare, more so for disabled with app/ to keep and carnt walk very farr. wy not put car park charges to use and build 2 muli-story car parks, one at each end of hos/ site;
i agree with susie something needs to be done , thats a good idea ,
Posted by: Anti-PC, Bury on 5:15pm Fri 28 Mar 08
About time something was done about that street. It's a nightmare to negotiate and the dickheads who park right on top of the chicanes (making it impossible to wait for oncoming traffic) need their heads examining.
What I don't understand though, is why people park in that street which is actually a longer walk from the shops etc. when there are 2 huge AND FREE car parks?
If I lived in that street, I'd be happy to pay £20 a year just to have the satisfaction of seeing the shopping morons being ticketed or towed.
Oh, and while the council is at it, make a traffic regulation order prohibiting waiting at any time within 10 metres of any traffic calming chicane (or junction for that matter) in any direction. Let's sort Bury's parking problem's out once and for all.
About time something was done about that street. It's a nightmare to negotiate and the dickheads who park right on top of the chicanes (making it impossible to wait for oncoming traffic) need their heads examining.
What I don't understand though, is why people park in that street which is actually a longer walk from the shops etc. when there are 2 huge AND FREE car parks?
If I lived in that street, I'd be happy to pay £20 a year just to have the satisfaction of seeing the shopping morons being ticketed or towed.
Oh, and while the council is at it, make a traffic regulation order prohibiting waiting at any time within 10 metres of any traffic calming chicane (or junction for that matter) in any direction. Let's sort Bury's parking problem's out once and for all.
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