14 Jun 2024
Neighbours in St Albans city centre say they face draconian new parking restrictions which will prevent them from having family or tradespeople visit at any time of the week.
Proposed parking changes include removing the single yellow lines and scrapping most of the one-hour waiting bays in Lattimore Road, eliminating the ability for visitors to park in the evenings and all-day on Sundays.
Elsewhere, in London Road, the scheme aims to prevent delivery drivers and takeaway couriers from parking illegally, including in the middle of the four-way junction at Watsons Walk, London Road and Lattimore Road.
SADC has blamed some of the proposals on a request from County Hall to install a new cycle lane.
Chris Traill, strategic director of community and place delivery, said: “We are carrying out a consultation about possible changes to yellow lines on roads across the city district. We have written to residents who may be affected.
“This is a routine exercise that we usually undertake twice a year in common with other local authorities.
“It is in response to requests for changes from the community – from residents, councillors, businesses and other organisations.
“On this occasion, Hertfordshire County Council is also asking for some yellow-line changes in relation to a cycle lane.
“The proposals are primarily intended to enhance road safety for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
“This can involve improving visibility at junctions or the entrances to properties and discouraging dangerous or inconsiderate parking.
“Another aim is to reduce congestion and ensure vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians can move more freely.
“These are simply proposals and all feedback from the consultation will be analysed before any decisions are made.”
The plans have met with outspoken concerns from local residents unsure about the practical implications or how the scheme will be enforced.
One neighbour said: “What happens with deliveries, repairs etc if there’s no waiting at any time?”
Another fumed: “My dad, who is in his eighties, visits us once a week for dinner and parks on the single line outside our house. What does the council expect him to do when these restrictions are put in place? Walk from The Maltings car park? It’s just SADC being discriminatory against the elderly again.”
One householder added: “Not only will these proposals make it impossible for us to have any visitors or workmen at any time of the week, but they fail to suggest any alternative provision.
“What we need is better enforcement which targets the people who park illegally throughout the week, rather than make things harder for local residents.
“We also don’t want traffic to be driving faster up and down our road because they’ve reduced congestion – many motorists already ignore the 20mph limits, but if they don’t have parked cars to navigate then there’s nothing to stop them speeding.”
Conservative Parliamentary candidate for St Albans, James Spencer, said the measures could also add a further deterrent to city centre shopping.
“At a time when we should be doing all we can to support the High Street, SADC seems to be doing all it can to put people off coming into the city centre.
“At the last local elections the Conservatives were committed to cutting city centre parking charges – it is policies like these we need to boost footfall to support our businesses and hard working traders.
“What St Albans doesn’t need is another ill-thought-through Lib Dem parking policy.”
To comment on the proposals, email parking.development@stalbans.gov.uk using the subject yel-1/ and your road name.
