02 Jun 2025
A two-pronged attack on draconian new yellow lines in a road in St Albans city centre has resulted in the district council revising the scheme.
The St Albans Times teamed up with St Peter’s ward councillor Juliet Voisey to call for common sense over new measures in Lattimore Road which made it impossible for residents to receive visitors in the evenings or on Sundays.
Last year SADC launched a public consultation on plans to remove the single yellow lines and scrap most of the one-hour waiting bays in the street, with the final scheme seeing all but six bays lost and double yellow lines painted on both sides of the road.
This newspaper revealed that not only did this restrict parking opportunities but it also increased the speed of cars – which flouted the 20mph limit and raced down the road – and we contacted the Green Party’s Cllr Voisey for her help.
Residents had hit back at the measures following their introduction.
Douglas Kintu said: “What little space is left in Lattimore Road for parking is either paid parking with an obligation to move after a certain period or has become double yellow lines. As a result we can’t park where we live without incurring substantial costs. Where does the council propose we leave our vehicles?”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve just moved in and I wasn’t aware that double yellow lines were being installed.
“My dad is 80 years old and became a widower in February. Coming to visit me has become impossible for him now – and he’s not in a fit enough state to walk to and from the car park.
“I live on my own and friends and family are reluctant to visit because of the parking restrictions, which could create a reclusive lifestyle without any choice.”
A neighbour added: “I just don’t understand the reasoning. Previously you could only park when there wasn’t much traffic anyway, like evenings and on Sundays, so what was the problem?”
After pressure from Cllr Voisey and the St Albans Times, SADC has now agreed to revise the scheme and revert sections of the double yellow lines back to single yellows, adding 12 additional parking spaces outside nos 66, between 31-47, between 44-52 and 42, and outside no 21.
Cllr Voisey said: “I’m pleased that residents’ concerns have been heard over the double yellow lines in Lattimore Road area.
“This is a highly residential area and it felt to me that this community was being penalised for living there.
“These over zealous double yellow lines made it near on impossible for residents to have visitors and impacted their daily lives. They also allowed drivers a free run to speed along this stretch of road.
“I’d like to thank everyone who contacted me, and look forward to working with the parking team in the future to plan more creative ways to tackle road safety without impacting our residents.”
