Council leader fears gridlock if permit scheme went ahead (From Bucks Free Press)

Council leader fears gridlock if permit scheme went ahead

10:20am Sunday 18th December 2011 in Business News By James Nadal

GRIDLOCK could grip Marlow if only selected streets get residents parking permits, the Leader of Wycombe District Council said this week.

Cllr Alex Collingwood, who represents Marlow, backed Marlow Town Council in pushing for a survey of parking in the whole town.

Residents surrounding Riley Park are angry about the decision because they believed they were set to finally get permits thanks to a £80,000 fund from the Sainsbury's development.

Action group chief Tim Spence said neighbours had responded to a consultation from Bucks County Council, which confirmed it had developed a plan for residents parking, so they were puzzled why the whole town was going to be surveyed instead.

But Cllr Collingwood told the MFP: “My understanding is even if you put residents parking in there aren't enough spaces for all the residents “That's why we need to look at it, if that's the case, they still won't be happy.

“They will then be moaning they can't park, there are more people in houses than spaces.

“Certain roads have certain issues but also there are other roads which have issues such as Harwood Road, Spring Gardens, where literally there are people who park all day there.”

He said: “The question we have to look at is with the survey, what happens if you move parking from one area to another?

“How does that affect houses, how does it operate as a whole?

“If it then leads to gridlock, no ones going to thank us for that.

“Rather than just rushing it, we want to take the time to do it properly and look at Marlow as a whole.”

He added: “We certainly want to improve parking for everybody and have to look at what the most appropriate method will be.”