Plea for yellow lines over parking misery on Shrewsbury estate
People living on a new housing development in Shrewsbury today claimed inconsiderate hospital visitors are making their lives a misery.
Since moving to Copthorne Grange, they say, visitors and staff at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital have been parking outside their homes, causing endless problems.
The road is unadopted, meaning there are no road signs or traffic markings. And, while some claim the inconsiderate parking has increased since charges were increased at the hospital, others say the problem has always existed but is getting worse.
Jane Smith, 28, moved to Seacole Way in the summer. As a mother of one she needs to be able to use the pavements to navigate her child's buggy in safety.
"It has been a nightmare some days," she said. "Sometimes I haven't been able to get the buggy out of the front path, let alone on the pavement. People just park right at the end of the footpath. I have seen nurses from the hospital parking here. I heard that even the bin men couldn't get through the other week and had to carry the recycling bins to the truck. Something has to be done. Perhaps when the road is adopted by the council and lines are painted the situation will get better."
Scott Higgins, 32, a sales adviser for Salop Caravans, has also experienced problems. His house stands close to the entrance of the development and cars are regularly left outside his house.
"People are parking half on the pavement and half off," said Scott.
"This causes problems for mums with pushchairs and also the disabled. I can't see the situation improving when the road is adopted. Only yellow lines will stop the problem and we aren't meant to be having any white lines marking our parking spaces painted on the roads."
Other residents claimed the roads were being used by visitors to the hospital. One woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "You can set your watch for visiting time by when the cars turn up. I have put signs on the cars parked outside my house but they just throw them on the ground."
Another added: "It is not merely the fact that hospital staff and visitors are parking here that is causing us concern, but also the manner in which they are parking. Frequently they park on kerbs, limiting access for both pedestrians and emergency vehicles."
Councillor Claire Wild, cabinet member for highways and transport at Shropshire Council, said: "We are aware that residents are concerned about parking on the new development, but we are unable to look at any traffic management measures while the road remains unadopted because it is not part of the council's road network.
"We are working with the developer to help them arrange the necessary legal documents to get the roads adopted, and when those are in place we could discuss whether parking restrictions are required."
