Canterbury City Council discuss changes to parking bays and yellow lines in their Annual On Street Parking Review. Anyone can recommend a change to on street parking online and historically these ideas were discussed once a year in a meeting open to the public (the Whitstable Forum).Â
This year 6 of the proposals relate to Gorrell Ward, although we have also chosen to publicly comment on 2 proposals which are by schools in neighbouring wards used by our residents.
We believe it is important to make our recommendations public to improve transparency. You deserve to know what we think and why we have come to the conclusions we have.
You will find detail of all the proposals listed here and submit your own comments until the 6th February.
Our recommendations are:
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6150: Proposed double yellow lines Joy Lane, Whitstable |
Support |
These proposals are a direct consequence of adding double yellow lines outside of Joy Lane School last year however it may also have the unintended consequence of increasing speeding along this road. The Community Speedwatch Group has already agreed with Kent Police to test this stretch following neighbourhood concerns. We’d be minded to agree but believe that this is only likely to push parking into adjoining roads including Meteor & Genesta Avenue – a plan for parking around this school needs to be put in place. |
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6250: Proposed double yellow lines Sydney Road |
AGREE |
This corner is difficult for buses and refuse vehicles to use – double yellow lines will improve access and sight lines. |
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6400: Proposed double yellow lines, Canterbury Road |
Support |
This junction is dangerous with cars often speeding into it. The extension of the double yellow line will prevent parking on a narrow section of pavement. |
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6700: Proposed changes to loading bays, High Street |
OPPOSE |
Whilst this change to vehicle loading may allow for the loading into shops from domestic vehicles (many of the traders don’t use long wheel based vans) it also significantly increases the likelihood of residents parking in the bays preventing access. The long bay outside Iceland (36/34) is particularly well used and, with no alternative parking bay which can take an articulated lorry in the high street, would cause huge disruption if changed. The smaller bay outside no 49 is specifically commercial as non commercial loading can use Gladstone Road. |
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6800: Proposed double yellow lines Stream Walk & Sydenham Street |
AGREE |
This corner is difficult for larger refuse vehicles to use. Parking outside Stream Cottages makes this corner dangerous and often prevents access to the dropped curves on the front of the properties. |
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6900: Proposed double yellow lines and loading bay Sea Street, Whitstable |
MODIFY |
The proposed double yellow lines will help improve traffic flow along this street but does pose a problem as to where residents of properties 1-22 can pull into unload. We’d recommend the vehicle loading bay be for all vehicles and not just goods loading. |
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7120: Changes to parking bay Old Bridge Road, Whitstable |
AGREE |
The shortening of this parking bay will help prevent accidents where the road narrows. We would appreciate that this is kept under review with consideration given to actually moving the whole bay 6ft further toward the station at the next review. |
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7300: Proposed pavement & verge parking ban Bridgefield Road, Whitstable |
MODIFY |
We agree with the sentiment of preventing parking on Bridgefield Road to improve safety during school pick up however the multitude of drop curbs within the designated parking bays on the road makes large sections of them unusable and sees pavement parking as cars try to park legally in the sections without a cross over. We’d recommend that in sections where cars try and park legally in the remaining sections of the bay but cannot do so because of their length (outside number 53 and 33 particularly), consideration be given to extending the size of the bay by 3-4ft in next years review. |
