Helston 'guerrilla parking' sparks complaints (From This is The West Country)

Helston 'guerrilla parking' sparks complaints

7:00am Monday 29th October 2012 in Cornwall

So-called “guerrilla parking” has led to complaints being made at Helston Town Council.

Mayor Jonathan Radford-Gaby said cars parking in Cades Parc and the top of Penrose Road, often on double yellow lines, were causing difficulties for other motorists.

Mr Radford-Gaby, who lives in Penrose Road, said: “There has been a spate of what I would call almost guerrilla parking at the top of Cades Parc overnight. I have to push my nose out almost in the middle of Wendron Street before I can turn in.”

He believed an accident was waiting to happen unless something was done, adding that another problem area was Cross Street. “It’s getting beyond a joke. Yesterday I counted no fewer than six cars outside Cross Street on the pavement. Anyone coming along in a wheelchair or double buggy would have to walk in the road.”

He was speaking to Cornwall Councillor Judith Haycock, who said the Cross Street parking was a police issue as vehicles were not breaking traffic rules but instead causing an obstruction.

Mrs Haycock added that unless there were double yellow lines at the top of Cades Parc, which would make it Cornwall Council’s responsibility, this was also a police issue. She agreed to make enquiries over the parking in Penrose Road. Mr Radford-Gaby said: “It’s absolutely downright dangerous.”

Councillor Niall Devenish had already spoken of the problems with buses double parking in Coinagehall Street.

He had driven through at around 5.30pm one evening and had seen two buses parked in the bus stop and a third effectively doubled parked. On the other side of the road, outside the Original Factory Shop, a fourth bus had parked just outside the bus stop, with “quite some distance” between the bus and the curb.

The end result, said Mr Devenish, was that traffic was unable to move in either direction. “I’m given to understand this not an unusual occurrence,” he added. “It does seem pretty ridiculous the bus company can stop and take passengers on, and double park the street, causing an obstruction.”

Mrs Haycock promised to make enquiries with the bus companies, but explained the council liked buses to stop at the same time so passengers could transfer without having to wait. However, she agreed: “We also need to get the traffic through.”