The leader of Trowbridge Town Council has vowed to crackdown on people abusing parking restrictions in a pedestrian zone in the town.
Cllr Stewart Palmen was appalled to find that divers are ignoring the ‘no parking’ pedestrian zone in Fore Street and parking there in breach of the regulations.
In the evening on Sunday, June 2, one man counted nine cars parked in Fore Street and said it’s like that on most evenings.
Now Cllr Palmen has vowed to stop the practice and has reported the flagrant breach to Wiltshire Council for them to fine anyone parking there.
Parking in the area is controlled by a gate that allows access for deliveries to shops but is designed to prevent other drivers from using the area.
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These drivers were pictured parking in Fore Street, Trowbridge, in breach of the pedestrian zone restrictions. Image: Trevor Porter 70150-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)
Cllr Palmen said: “There are five or six cars parked there in the evening and it is not a parking area. They are going to improve the signage.
“The road should be closed and there is no legal parking on any part of Fore Street. I will take this up with Wiltshire Council as some fines should help stop this.
“The gates are shut but there is nothing stopping people simply opening them again. People are just driving into the top end of Fore Street from Market Street.”
Signs clearly show drivers there is no parking at any time in the Fore Street pedestrian zone. Image: Trevor Porter 70150-2 (Image: Trevor Porter)
He has asked Wiltshire Council’s parking enforcement team to patrol the area, he added: “Sunday is not different from any other days on the time it is open and shut (10am to 4pm).
“But even when open there is no parking on Fore Street. Enforcement have been asked to put it on their list for patrols on a Sunday.”
However, one Trowbridge resident criticised Cllr Palmen’s response, saying fines are not the answer to the issue.
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He said: “How about someone does their job properly by shutting the gate.
“People taking an opportunity that presented itself shouldn't be punished. You'd be fining people for human nature.
“A simple conversation and communication will solve it, fines and punishment will make people angry and is frankly unfair.”
Signs in Fore Street warn drivers and motorcyclists they must not take their vehicles into the pedestrian zone at any time and that cyclists must dismount. Image: Trevor Porter 70150-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)
Wiltshire Council leader, Richard Clewer said: “The illegal parking in Fore Street on Sundays and during the evenings has been reported to us.
"Enforcement of the current restriction continues to be undertaken and our enforcement officers will seek to address these concerns in the coming weeks with increased patrols of the area.
"In the meantime, we would like to remind motorists of the need to abide by the restrictions in place to avoid receipt of Penalty Charge Notices.”
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