Mixed reaction to double yellow lines plan (From Bucks Free Press)

Mixed reaction to double yellow lines plan in Beaconsfield

11:10am Friday 27th January 2012 in Politics By Lawrence Dunhill

PLANS to introduce a raft of parking restrictions in Beaconsfield got a mixed reaction at a public exhibition at the weekend.

Double yellow lines and various waiting restrictions are proposed for several roads around the railway station - in a bid to reduce the number of vehicles parked in the New Town.

Many rail commuters park in residential streets to avoid car parking charges, but residents have complained about driveways being blocked and a lack of space.

About 100 residents went to the town hall on Saturday to view the plans, which were drawn up by Buckinghamshire County Council.

Bernard Woolf, 77, lives in Oakdene, which is not one of the roads put forward for restrictions.

He told the Bucks Free Press: “More and more people are using the railway but they’re not paying for the car park. These plans are needed because the problem has got worse and worse in the last couple of years.

“We’ve asked for the end of Oakdene to be included, because restrictions in One Tree Lane will make it worse for us.”

He said cars are often parked on both sides down the full length of Wilton Road, making it difficult to navigate and blocking the route through to Ledborough Lane.

The consultation process is being supported by the town council and there is a £10,000 budget for the project, which has been put forward after a survey of all the roads in the New Town.

The plans aim to reduce parking in the worst hit roads, while avoiding full-scale displacement into neighbouring streets.

They also aim to reduce dangerous parking, which can make some roads too narrow for emergency vehicles.

A woman, who asked not to be named, supported the plans: “I live in Assheton Road [included in the plan] which is jammed full of cars and really unsafe. It’s definitely time we had parking restrictions.

“Parents from High March School drop off here, and you get people parking across driveways for 20 minutes.”

Caroline Whiteman, 72, of Ledborough Wood [not in the current plan], said: “I’m concerned that the cars parking in Wilton Road will come and park in my road. It’s a very narrow road and there’s certainly no room for more parking there.”

Others raised concerns that the restrictions would not be policed. South Bucks is the only district in the county where Thames Valley Police, rather than the council, is still responsible for parking enforcement.

The current proposals would see double yellow lines painted along the whole of One Tree Lane, and large parts of Wilton Road, Candlemas Mead, Malkin Drive and Redwood Place.

Small parts of Caledon Road, Baring Crescent and Wattleton Road would also get double yellows, with waiting restrictions introduced in Sandelswood End, Assheton Road, Bearswood End, Brownswood Road and Malkin Drive.

Various options, including double yellows, have been put forward for Rolfe Close and Curzon Avenue, while the current plans would relax some of the restrictions in Grenfell Road and Warwick Road.

Thomas Lewis, 32, from Flackwell Heath, parks in Candlemas Mead every morning to commute from Beaconsfield to London.

The clinical researcher said: “Adding yellow lines to the roads will not solve the central issue for many people which is the overpriced car parks.

“If I have to stop parking in Candlemas Mead then I will simply park elsewhere, with the old town being an option.”

An annual parking permit at Beaconsfield Station costs £880.

To see the plans in detail visit: http://bucksconsultation.buckscc.gov.uk