Parking and Clamping
Created by CliveSeveral cars were clamped in Kingsway Village this morning and it’s likely to happen again.
After hearing some details from local residents, I was concerned that the clamping / removal was done in a seemingly ad-hoc fashion so I spoke to Andrew Hunter (QUVL) to check that the company levying the fines was legitimate (bearing in mind that recent BBC Watchdog reports have been broadcast about bogus clamping companies).
Mr Hunter said that the only company authorised to clamp on Kingsway is CPS Enforcement and residents should check to make sure that they don’t pay fines to anybody else. He said that cars were clamped for parking on double-yellow lines on Woodvale (the main bus route) and Valley Gardens (where folks tend to park on bends and cause severe problems for passing traffic).
Evidently some cars were also clamped on other roads (Thatcham Avenue for instance) but clamps were removed without charge (although it seems that some of those people did pay to have the clamps removed but AH said that he would try to get those fines refunded).
Just to reiterate some points covered in previous discussions, the roads in Kingsway are currently owned by the QUVL and – as such – are not subject to “normal” restrictions, but – as private owners – the QUVL have the right to enforce parking restrictions by clamping vehicles, and charging for removal of the clamps.
Parking in Kingsway Village has been a problem for a long time now and doesn’t look like it will get any better. Unfortunately the Governement Guidelines of 1 car-space per family on new-build properties are hopelessly inadequate for modern-day families in commuter areas like Kingsway and have led to people ignoring restrictions, and – unfortunately – to some parking on their front gardens and a lot of irresponsible parking on pavements, bends and junctions!
Following discussions between the Residents Association and Andrew Hunter last year, some concessions were made and sections of the double-yellow lines on Thatcham Avenue (and other roads) were painted out to allow some parking areas.
Sadly the lack of road surface on Thatcham Avenue has meant that some of the double-yellow lines have worn off and much of the “black-out paint” is completely gone… so I have also reported this to Mr Hunter by Email.
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April 16th, 2009 at 1:16 am
I wish they would clamp more! Some of the parking that I see is irresponsible. Some people use paths for walking on or pushing pushchairs and some idiot parks there car so you have to go on the road! Wish I had my own personal clamp, I tell you.
At the end of the day most of us have a car parking space and a garage. Yes most people do not use their garages for their cars – I don’t – However I chose a house that had a drive way enough for 3 cars.
April 16th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I bet they didn’t clamp the car and the van that seem to be serial offenders on Woodvale near the first Halton Way turn!
Speaking of Halton Way, the cars that park close to the junctions with Woodvale make it a real pain to enter\exit Halton way safely; I suspect the cars that park there are also people who dont live on Halton Way but on Woodvale itself!
April 16th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Well said Chumly.
I know the first turning you are talking about and parking from the junction down is both irresponsible and dangerous. I have seen cars parked on pavements and gardens.
At the second Halton Way junction the problem is exactly the same. Here though one or two drivers who park on the pavements are putting approx’ 1000 people at risk as a fire engine will not be able to fit through; by the time they turn round and try the other entrance it may be too late!
I reiterate Miss C…. bring on more clampers, might teach people to clear their garages and park in them.
April 16th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Hear hear – lja and chumly.
Halton Way is turning into a nightmare entering and exiting due to irresponsible parking. Also why do people always park on the pavement on the narrowed bit of road making it even more difficult to pass? I feel I should get a wide van and rip their wing mirrors off just to prove a point!
I personally welcome the clampers!
April 16th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Personally I think it’s irresponsible development as there has not been enough parking provided.
Also I have found out that the reason that the main roads are not wide enough is that the developers did not want to develop the roads that existed from the RAF site and make them wide enough, if they had not been so penny-pinching, there would be enough room to park and pass!
The problem I have is that people will still have 2 cars, and if they are forced off the main roads, they will only annoy the people in the smaller roads where they will have to park, or more likely when they have friends and relatives come to visit.
‘Though I do not condone the dangerous parking at junctions – particularly at the roundabout at the bottom of Thatcham Avenue – it is better than it was.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
That was really good news that clampers have started to clamp those illegally parked cars.
We have a garage and we use it to park our car there, our second car is parked on our drive. This in turn leaves the roads clear.
As we walk around the estate I never cease to be amazed
at the garages that are used just for storage. We over came that
by buying a shed… problem solved.
Well done Mr Clamper lets have more of the same soon.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:49 am
Hi Neighbours,
It’s interesting to see how many folks are sick of the careless parking that goes on… makes you wonder who’s actually doing it
Tog: A garage and parking space? You’re luckier than most
Baz – You make some good points and add some interesting insight.
I think (as I said in the article) that much of the blame lies with Governement legislation, but it’s obvious that housing developers (all/most of them… our developers are – by no means – unique in this respect) aren’t overly-interested in helping improve matters at their expense – a reflection of the over-subscribed housing market I guess – and I don’t suppose the “slump” will encourage them to change their ways anytime soon
It’s true that many are blatantly disregarding safety – and their social conscience – in the way that they park, but it’s also true that there is drastically insufficient parking available for residents and visitors and I can see it causing ongoing problems long into the future.
What a shame that such a carefully designed community has such a huge basic flaw that will profoundly affect the look and feel of the area and the safety of the residents, their children and visitors.
Then again… If we can’t find space for a piddling little pod to provide a place for local youths to meet (thus we spend our lives moaning about the attitude and actions of local youths who have nowhere to go and very little to do), I don’t suppose our need for additional parking is going to stand a chance no matter how much we complain about it
April 17th, 2009 at 10:32 am
In many ways, I don’t know why I get such a bee in my bonnet about this issue. I only have one car and I (generally) use my parking space. When I get a hire car, I utilise the space beside the Bryant car park at evenings and weekends.
However, I just feel that the issues that people have are a symptom which is not of our making. The same arguments arise, such as buy a bigger drive, or only have 1 car, or use your garage. In my opinion, these arguments are easy to use, but are short sighted. IE: If I went and bought the house with the bigger drive, someone else would buy my house and they would have the problem I have. In this day and age, generally only having one car is unrealistic as both adults have to work to afford the home and using the garage for parking is a good idea, but storage of stuff is also a consideration. Not to mention, the second parking space is directly in front of the garage, not exactly ideal.
If there was better public transport connections, then this would reduce the need for a second car. I think the No14 bus is OK, but does not start early enough for those who work out of town. And a bus service to Bristol would be brilliant.
As Clive points out, the Government legislation has really buggered it up with their strategy. But it still beggars belief that a commuter village does not cater for residents cars properly. Also, and I have said this before as well, my wife and I have friends and family who don’t live in Kingsway, as I’m sure everyone else does. Where on earth are they supposed to park.
In short, I’m alright Jack, but lets think about the bigger problem instead of wanting our neighbours clamped which isn’t exactly friendly or neighbourly.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Hi Clive
No we are not lucky having a garage and a small drive on which to park our cars; I would call it planning in advance. We only
looked at houses that would accomadate our needs IE: 2 cars.
Every property has a parking space, the problem is that everyone wants to park right outside there own front door, which in turn causes traffic problems for everyone.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Then I could say you were lucky to be able to afford the choice, and that nothing has changed since you moved in.
I have one parking space. When we moved here we had only one car (for the last 8 years). Since we moved though, Angelina has had to get a job, thus another car, so we now need an extra space!
Kids grow up, things change, and – as Baz says – if I move to a house with 2 spaces somebody else will take mine and the problem will most likely be transferred to them.
There’s no doubt that you’re right about some people wanting to park right outside their front door, but the bigger problem is that there is nowhere… not anywhere at all, that I can park my 2nd car (legally) even within sight of my house (or wouldn’t be if I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a few kind neighbours who don’t need their spaces, thus allow us to use them).
The problem exists because of the utter lack of public parking in the village and ultimately, it will not be solved by clamping. Furthermore, even if everybody with a garage and drive uses them to the full, there will still be problems for many of those houses and flats with only one car space, and for visitors (and care workers, etc) who need to park in the vicinity.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Hi All
I agree ther is a problem with parking but at the same time some people are very inconsiderate in the way that they park.
I think it is time that we had a bus service i walk out to Bodium Ave and catch the no 10 which runs every 10 mins its not ideal but it is better than the 4mile round trip to the park and ride,we are blocked in all ways round we can-not go under the bridge, the road straight across toward the park and ride is also blocked off. As the council has not adopted the roads why do they still take FULL council tax from us.
Baz`es coments about the delvelopers using the old MOD roads is not correct i worked here for the MOD for 26 years and there only bits of original roads they are from Valley Gardens to the bridge which used to be to lanes the developer narrowed that down under the bridge, then the construction traffic exit which is the very rough stretch of road which used to be used to test the brakes on repaired MOD vehicles and lastly if you turned left at the end of that road the road that runs parallel with the railway and that has houses on now and is called Flyingdales Gardens.
April 17th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
“As the Council has not adopted the roads, why do they still take FULL Council Tax from us.”
Brilliant question.
April 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Hi Baz,
Why don’t we try and get a reduction on Council Tax?
All I get for £148 a month is my bin emptied, no proper foot path, no street lighting, no post box, no buses, no litter bins!
April 17th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Next time I talk to Jackie Hall, I’ll bring it up with her and see what she says.
She is normally pretty good in terms of not just talking around something, but actually being straight (a rare commodity)!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Hi Baz
Many thanks, let’s hope she will take this up on our behalf.
April 18th, 2009 at 7:31 am
In terms of Council Tax, I enquired when our street will get green bins – as I know some do already – and they are reviewing in the Autumn.
Surely that is a Council Tax issue too?
April 19th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Yes as many of you said, the Developers are part of the parking problem. For example, a recent car park for show houses on the corner of Woodvale and Valley Gardens is now home to new development rather than left to car parking, which could have helped those living nearby and/or visitors. It’s a larger Society problem where money is king and some people are selfish. As someone else stated some folk want to park as near as the door as possible.
- Clearing garages would help
- Parking responsibly would help.
- More use of public transport and bikes where possible.
- Improved public transport (EG Regularity at certain times of day).
One may have to walk several streets to find somewhere to park your car as I used to have to do when living in Cheltenham town centre, thats life! Yes parking is a problem but pails into insignificance compared to larger global problems, which affect us all indirectly.
- Kingsway is lacking many facilities.
- Yes if the Council are not providing certain services, eg: adopting maintenace of roads etc, then I urge you all to write to the Council for an explanation and possible reduction in Council Tax. I will certainly be doing this.
Never be put off badgering Council officials. They are elected and if don’t do the job they’re elected to do, get rid and someone who will at least try, as there are some good Councillors around.
Time to go for a pie and pint… ‘power to the people’!
April 20th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Hi fatlad,
Thanks for you comment
Regarding your comment about parking several streets away; the biggest problem we have is that there’s no sign of any alternative parking in Kingsway at all… So – once the Village expands to somewhere nearer it’s targetted size – the nearest alternative parking may well be in Quedgeley!
Hi Neighbours,
I found out today that the visit from CPS Enforcement was actually in response to a call from a local resident, rather than the QUVL (presumably he/she had tried leaving a note on the windshield without success)!
April 21st, 2009 at 9:25 am
I appreciate that parking is a major issue for many people in Kingsway and I also appreciate that circumstances change. That said, we have 3 cars and deliberately chose a house that had a garage (for the track car we rarely use) and two further spaces. That was absolutely top of our list of requirements when looking at properties and we would not have considered for a second a property without a garage or parking for further cars. However we are lucky enough to be in a position to have this choice.
My neighbour, who lives in a house identical to mine, with the same parking provision as mine, has two cars. One is parked on his drive outside his garage but his second car is parked on the pavement outside his house. THis means that when I walk out of my front door and turn to walk along the pavement with my 4 month old in her pram, I have to dangerously walk along the middle of the road past his car.
I think this is a good illustration of people’s differing attitudes. He has ample space to park at the rear of his house but it would mean a walk of around 50 yards to get to his front door. This is obviously too much for him so he obstructs traffic and pedestrians in Woodvale instead. His garage as far as I can see is rarely, if ever, used for anything at all, let alone a car.
Interestingly a few days ago a fire appliance came along Woodvale and had to travel through the island on the wrong side of the road because of his inconsiderate parking. Not only could this have caused a traffic accident if something had been coming the other way, but if someone had parked in the same location on the other end of the island, the appliance would not have managed to get through at all. This would then endanger people in Woodvale, Chivenor Way, Holbeach Drive and other roads if there was a fire or other emergency.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have as much parking provision as we do, but most of those who have more requirement than space do park considerately as far as they can (Baz being a good example) but as always, it is the minority affecting the majority.
I don’t see this situation improving and think it will just be a known problem of living in Kingsway.
April 21st, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Hi Clare,
I agree the parking is not good, but it’s no worse than anywhere else. In the city streets they have no parking, but seem to manage parking where they can and having to walk to their home, it’s just that people will not walk a few steps.
When I worked in Cheltenham, I had to ride around the street at 7:30am just looking for someone to pull out and go on their way to work so I could pull into their space and go to my place of work; so why do people worry so much about parking on their doorstep?
April 21st, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Well said Clare.
So glad that someone else made provision for parking their cars a priority before they bought there house, I was begining to think I was the only one.
We have now taken to using our cycles to go into Quedgeley.
April 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 am
Just wondered if it was wise to say that “someone” contacted CPS Enforcement? That person (owner of car) may have had an idea of who it was and now it has been confirmed.
I said (check above) that we bought our house because of the parking (driveway and a garage). I don’t think I was lucky in our choice, it was the fact we needed that parking or we wouldn’t have moved into a property that didn’t have the parking choices. We can have visitors on our drive and also outside our house, again another well-made choice when looking into buying a property. Compromises have to be made when choosing a house etc and seeing as it is the biggest (for most) loan they have, it should be a well thought out process.
April 22nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Hi Miss C,
As previously stated, there were far more than just one car clamped and more than one street targetted/covered, so I can’t imagine that anybody could guess the identity of the caller!
I’m not sure who your last paragraph was aimed at and I agree that careful choice is the smart way to go, but it’s probably fair to say that not everybody has the range of choices that you (obviously) did.
April 27th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I think that Clare raises a valid point – Why should anyone be forced to cross the road because someone is so inconsiderate that they have to park on the pavement?
Not just people with prams, what about wheelchair users, children etc… it is an accident waiting to happen.
Anyone with a garage should be forced to use it. Sorry if this sounds harsh but it would solve most of the parking problems on the estate.
I say again – bring on more clampers for the whole estate and ticket/clamp anyone parking recklessly or in a position that causes danger to others, pedestrians or drivers.
April 27th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
I do not advocate anyone parking dangerously and pavements are for walking not parking. However I would still hope that people would attempt to talk to the owners of vehicles which have parked inconsiderately before phoning the clamping company.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Whilst it’s obvious there is a problem with lack of parking spaces it would be great if people could park considerately, especially those people who contiunally park on the corner of Marham Drive and block the access to the pavement, making it extremely dangerous for the school children walking to school in the morning and afternoon. Baz, I have asked the lady in question who leaves her black car constantly blocking the pavement access gap, to please leave a space to enable parents like me to get prams and children safely onto the pavement, yet she just totally blanked me! I think this says a lot about people’s selfish attitude in this day and age
Perhaps a note from a clamping company may get the message across to people who consistantly park inconsiderately.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Hi All,
I would just like to add a few points into this discussion:
1) Although the roads have not yet been adopted by the local Council, the roads are still classed as a “Public Highway”.
2) All traffic has a right to use a public highway, unless prohibited by the local Council.
3) “Use” is a generic term for (Park/Drive/Reverse/turn Around/etc).
4) The rules of the highway still apply to Kingsway (Double parking/parking inconsiderately/speeding/etc).
5) Only the Local Authority are allowed to post restrictions/amendments to the highway (DYL/Speed Changes/etc).
6) The “double yellow lines” have not been painted by the local authority, and are therefore graffiti on the public highway. Technically CPS could be prosecuted for criminal damage.
7) Any request for money is not a ‘fine’ please do not refer to it as this.
9) By parking on the pretty yellow lines that CPS have painted, you are not doing anything illegal, please do not refer to these cars as illegally parked, as they are not! (If I wrote on a wall “Anybody walking past this wall will pay Holbeach Miserable £100″, would you pay? If not what makes this any different?)
10) If you wish to delve deeper into this situation please visit http://www.pepipoo.com where you can find accurate information about the legalities of this.
Now that I have got that off my chest, I would just like to add that the parking is a nightmare, and the sooner we force QUVL to work with the Council to get the roads adopted, the sooner we can get Real & Enforceable DYL’s on our estate.
Clive, I know that you are normally very liberal at allowing all sides to air their views, in that I ask that you please leave the website address in my reply so that people can find accurate information out for themselves on this matter.
HM.
May 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Chris has a point. Instead of initially taking the hard enforcement of just clamping, why not first leaflet the cars to make them aware that what they are doing is dangerous / endangering lives / inconsiderate etc, and warn them that they may be clamped. This could be done by the PCSO’s who so-say walk our estate, (never seen them myself)!
Then if they continue to park irresponsibly, clamp them, ticket them, ask them for money, whatever… They have been warned.
Although parking on the double yellows is not illegal, parking dangerously is and can be enforced by Police, no matter who owns the road.
May 15th, 2009 at 9:09 am
I just received a call from Andy Hunter.
It seems that the Police have received numerous calls about careless parking on Valley Gardens / Woodvale and have contacted AH about it.
Andy says that the cars will be clamped later this morning and rang me so that I could warn you about it.
May 17th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
Having lived here since the start of Kingsway, being the first to live on phase one and now neigbourhood 3 on Thatcham Avenue, it amazes me how people can buy houses and not know what they are getting. Pavements are for people not cars (you know who you are on Thatcham Avenue) and it gets worse every time someone moves in. The developers need to make people aware that the main roads are no parking and this includes their sales centres. It’s amazing that Persimmon has no parking and even the sales lady parks on the pavement!
People who rent out their house also need to make sure they tell their tenants where they can and can’t park. Just this afternoon I got abused by a woman who pulled up on the yellow lines and opened her door making me brake hard to miss her… then issued a torrent of abuse.
Bring on the clamping before someone gets hurt or there is a big crash, it’s only a matter of time before there is a head on crash on Thatcham Avenue and people get hurt.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Well said Thatcham. Your comments about cars being parked
illegally on the main roads and across the paths are totally correct.
How much longer do we have to wait for these irresponsible car owners to start and use there garages and allocated parking spaces?
I have had a few near misses from cars that do not obey the signs
indicating whose right of way it is and then received a load of abuse, even when they are in the wrong!
Will have to try the Police and see if they can resolve this issue. I
am quite sure if I parked my car on a pavement in Gloucester City
centre I would be soon moved on with hefty fine as well.
Tog
May 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
As an aside to the Parking, I think the standard of driving ’round here does leave a lot to be desired from a minority. The number of people who seem to have a need to race through the traffic calming is silly. Today I have had 2 large 4×4’s trying to speed their way through, (one early this morning and one again this evening) without a thought to other users. Whilst I would maybe expect it of younger drivers, these guys certainly were not young!
You should be setting a better example.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hi Neighbours,
I agree about the standard of driving. I can’t believe the carelessness of local drivers speeding up Thatcham Avenue irrespective of pedestrians.
Then there’s the Moped owning youth who likes to carry 2 passengers at once and thinks that crash helmets aren’t obligatory
Personally, I don’t think you’ll have too much luck getting the Police to resolve the issue(s), I lived in the City Centre for several years and couldn’t get any help stopping parking on the pavement/junction outside of my house (even though there were several accidents caused by it during that time)!
Last but not least: My pet hate is the number of people who think that the dual carriageway outside of Kingsway Village is a One-Way Street
Why is it that people who want to turn right on Cole Avenue think it’s OK to use the right-hand lane for the entire trip?
May 19th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
On the question of traffic speeding along Woodvale and Thatcham Avenue, I can’t believe there are no temporary signs urging people to slow down.
My driving instructor gave me some good advice when I passed my test, his words were "don’t forget you have a lethal killing machine under your control,"… I have never forgotten his words.
On one of my previous posts I wrote about putting a couple of these temporary speed ramps that can be bolted down on the road like the ones used in Goose Bay Road, perhaps this measure would slow down Barry Sheen and his mates!
Tog.
May 20th, 2009 at 11:17 am
Hi Tog,
Yeah, we could sure use some sort of measure to encourage folks to drive more sensibly… otherwise something nasty is going to happen soon
I’m not in favour of ramps myself (although they might possibly level Thatcham out a little – lol) but we could certainly use something to slow down the irresponsible lunatics who enjoy endangering the lives of others!