Shropshire Star

Police may take action over poor parking outside Telford International Centre

Extra police patrols could be put in place around the Telford International Centre on event days after residents complained about thoughtless parking.

Published

Jane Coleman, who lives in Hollinswood, said cars and vans were parked on grass verges and obstructing walkways during last month's Putoline Classic Dirt Bike Show.

The damage caused on the verges

Now organisers are working with the police to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Mrs Coleman said: "I took my dog for a walk that Saturday at 10.30am and saw cars and vans parked on the grass verges of roads close to the TIC.

"My walk took me past the International Centre and I saw that some of their car parks were not full.

"People seemed content to leave their cars wherever they wanted rather than use the car parks provided.

"I went past the International Centre again on Sunday and saw a van parked on a verge that was stuck in the mud.

"The driver used two tarpaulin sheets under the wheels to get the van free and then drove off. The tarpaulins were still there on Monday but had been moved by Tuesday."

Mrs Coleman's husband Simon contacted the police to complain about the parking and the damage to grass verges. The officer he spoke to said it was the responsibility of the council.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said if cars are clearly causing an obstruction, or are parked on yellow lines then that would be a matter for the police.

He said: "But in regard to other parking issues, such as on grass verges, that is a grey area, because it hasn't been made clear if it is a police or a council responsibility."

Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman Russell Griffin said the council would need to develop a business case demonstrating to the Department for Transport that the authority can undertake on-street parking enforcement without a burden to the council taxpayer.

He said: "Regrettably, due to the much-publicised resource pressures the council is currently facing, it has not been possible to progress with this business case.

"We therefore asked the police in September 2013 to carry on their enforcement duties until such time that the council is in a position to apply for Civil Parking Enforcement powers."

Nick Mowbray, exhibition manager for the Classic Dirt Bike Show, said he hasn't been told about any problems with parking at the event.

He said: "As well as the onsite parking, we have additional parking at the two hotels close to the TIC. We also hire an extra car park off the council.

"Parking is free on those car parks, so I can't see why people would just leave their cars on the grass verges. I am glad this matter has been brought to my attention, because I will now look into it."

A spokesman for the Telford International Centre said they work closely with the organisers of all the events they hold to ensure they, and their visitors, are fully informed of parking facilities in the area.

He said: "The Classic Bike Show seems to be the only event where visitors have a tendency to park on the grass verges – despite plenty of parking being available in the town centre

"We are in discussions with West Mercia Police to ask them to increase their presence at future events in order to prevent this happening again.

"We've also asked Telford & Wrekin Council to promote parking facilities on electronic signage across the town."

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