Thatcham Avenue Parking
Created by SSTARIs anyone getting fed up to the back teeth with the inconsiderate individuals parking opposite Marham Drive?
This morning there were 3 cars parked on the kerb opposite, which makes it risky when pulling out onto Thatcham Avenue, especially if you are turning right. It also stops people walking on the pavement because they are parked on it. There is just no consideration or thought when parking there.
I’m fed up with it!
Where are the double yellow lines?
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on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
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February 28th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Hi SSTAR,
The yellow lines were of course covered over, when Thatcham Avenue was resurfaced. I’ve no idea how long it will be before they’re repainted, nor whether they will be the same as before. Perhaps they will announce it at the next Residents Association meeting.
There have been a lot of previous discussions on the subject of parking in Kingsway in general, and quite a few on Parking on Thatcham Avenue in particular.
Clive
February 28th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Yes, I find it really annoying. They are new residents and moved in since the road has been re-surfaced so they may not know the no-parking. Not an excuse I know. The house further on down next to the give way is also making life really difficult!
February 28th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
I hear what you are saying, it’s dangerous and inconsiderate – we have covered this problem regarding the parking opposite Marham Drive so many times; ultimately it never gets resolved and the posting gets out of hand with a heated discussion… so if we are to discuss this, then please let it be nice!
On the other hand I don’t agree with the parking opposite Marham Drive, but I will say one thing for the new people – at least they have been using their drive, which they have done so more recently, (which is a lot more than can be said about the rest of the people who continue to park along Thatcham Avenue).
February 29th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Morning…
I agree with the direction of keeping the thread polite, always helps!
The indication of the pavement being blocked from cars parking across them is of course a matter for concern in itself, and not just in the area mentioned – this prevents it’s proper use for pedestrians (children, senior citizens, disabled, residents walking their dogs…) and for those who have disability scooters/wheel chairs or very young children on small bikes – who are simply forced out into the busy road with these restrictive obstacles because of poorly minded decisions that only add to the possibilities of a very serious accident.
The land is still within the management control of QUVL and not the council (still not sure what area of Thatcham Ave has or is about to be adopted) regardless such restrictive prevention of pavement use should be addressed by QUVL before an accident happens and not after when it’s sadly too late!
March 2nd, 2012 at 10:55 am
Thank you all for your comments, yes blastu2 I agree about a potential accident, it’s just mindless. They would soon moan if a child on a bike tried to pass by and scratched their car. I have today sent a complaint to QUVL, will see if it is actioned.
I hope the yellow lines are painted in the problem areas as it’s getting beyond a joke.
March 4th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
Entering and leaving Marham Drive has always been a problem for the four years that we have lived here. I have lost count of how many near misses I have had when struggling to negotiate around parked cars on corners, and right on top of the give-way traffic calming sections. As far as traffic calming goes it is causing more and more frustration, not to mention making things dangerous for all users of the road or pavement. Has anyone else been met with oncoming traffic and had nowhere to go, causing a complete standstill and raised tempers?
This situation has not changed in four years, so why expect it to change any time soon? Also with insurance costs going through the roof and getting higher every year, it would be extremely bad luck to have a ding. I just wonder if these inconsiderate people parking on the road can actually be claimed against in such an incident, for dangerous or inconsiderate parking causing the accident in the first place? It would be great if we could, and maybe a huge insurance premium and loss of their no claims bonus would get them parking where they should a bit rapid.
March 20th, 2012 at 7:34 am
Is anything ever going to be done about the parking along Thatcham? It has got considerably worse recently. Accident waiting to happen. Yellow lines needed now.
March 20th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Hi rich (et al),
Yes, but I’ve no idea what! Come along to the Residents Association Meeting on March 28th, and ask Andy Smith (QUVL) yourself.
April 12th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Does anyone know when clamping can start again on Thatcham just for the inconsiderate people that are STILL parking opposite Marham Drive?
I have had in the last three weeks, about four near misses when pulling out in the morning. I have to say however it’s not only the cars parked opposite it’s also the car/vans that come speeding through and with the cars parked opposite you have nowhere to go to get out of the way. The cars parked on the same side as Marham Drive impair your vision for oncoming traffic so you just have to go for it, then you can’t pull over to get out of the way.
If anyone reading this knows the people responsible please have word because they obviously don’t read this!
May 2nd, 2012 at 1:38 pm
I agree Steve, the cars parked on the same side as Marham Drive are getting more and more. I honestly don’t think there is any point in complaining anymore because nothing will be done, just have to put up with it I suppose, everything falls on deaf ears. Having a word won’t stop it because people just don’t care anymore. Respect for other drivers has gone!
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Seems to me the people who are causing these parking problems are one of the many reasons Kingsway has a bad reputation for a place to live.
May 2nd, 2012 at 10:32 pm
Darrjeff who says ‘Kingsway has a bad reputation for a place to live’? Or is that your view?
Local media?
Kingsway residents?
Those who live elsewhere in Gloucester?
I’m not sure where you have got your information from regards the above, Yes parking for some can be a issue but surely there are many other factors in play regards how one comes to decide a certain place as a a bad reputation to live. Yes things could be better on the parking front but these have been discussed on here over the years without much actually being done other than double yellow lines being put down, although with Thatcham being recently resurfaced they have subsequently been covered up. I feel DY lines should be in place throughout all the main traffic routes in Kingsway to help keep traffic flowing particularly at busy times of the day.
The other reasons being ? which you did not mention. I could speculate here: Litter? ASB? Lack of facilities? Proposed Incinerator?
August 1st, 2012 at 9:22 pm
The parking situation is now getting ridiculous. You cannot see if any cars are coming when pulling out from Marham Drive, due to the cars parked on the right hand side of Thatcham Ave’. Once you have pulled out it’s like dodgem cars driving down Thatcham, and now they have changed the chicane direction.
Cars parked half on the road and half on the pavement, I get very frustrated every time I drive down.
Where are the yellow lines?
August 2nd, 2012 at 12:47 pm
There has been a rethink at the very top. Marham Drive is going to get it’s very own special Olympic Priority Travel Lane, plus each resident/household in said Drive will be eligible for a “I AM SO IMPORTANT” air horn… fitted free of charge of course!
August 2nd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
I agree with SStar. It’s time the yellow lines were painted back on Thatcham Avenue. I too am sick to death of every time I drive on Thatcham Avenue, having to dodge cars; well done to those cars who persistently park in ridiculous if not dangerous places, causing havoc each day. Please when is Thatcham Avenue going to have it’s yellow lines back? The road was resfuraced ages ago so how much longer do we have to wait? And talking of the resurfacing, I don’t think they made such a good job of it either.
August 6th, 2012 at 10:26 pm
The lines will only move the problem so you’ll have to negotiate your driving skills in another area where there’s no yellow lines.
Unfortunately people around here don’t believe in using garages for the purpose they are meant. As I was recently told when I challenged someone’s inconsiderate parking on Kingsway: “Garages are for storage purposes and parking spaces in front of said garage can’t be used as it would block access to the garage”. So just park your car as close to your front door as you can without considering the impact it has on others who live in the vicinity.
I do wonder sometimes what planet some of these people come from.
August 7th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
I wonder if they will bother with them, quite a few people who got parking tickets didn’t pay them, the clamping actually did work obviously that’s now illegal.
Something needs to be done, the entrance to Marham Drive is really bad, not just for the residents of Marham Drive.
August 28th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
I see that the yellow lines are in place on Thatcham Ave’, although car owners are still parking in between the road and the pavement. My daughter had trouble getting her double-buggy down into the road to pass these parked cars, then back onto the pavement, only to do it again further down the road. So what is the point of putting yellows lines, when cars are now parking on the pavement? This is dangerous, when pavement are blocked. Is anyone manning these parked cars or do we wait for an accident to happen when children/pushchairs have to step out into the road to pass?
September 3rd, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Perhaps the answer is to “name and shame” the offenders – upload photos of the cars and then share them with our local PC officers.
September 4th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Hi KevB,
At the moment the parking restrictions (double-yellow lines) aren’t legally enforceable, so the most the Police could do is to ask offenders to be more considerate and I doubt they will want to get involved at present.
September 4th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
The cars parking half on the road and half on the pavement really does annoy; these cars cause potential accidents from road users and it doesn’t help the situation as there still isn’t enough room for two cars to pass and yet it causes pedestrians to have to walk on the road which is really dangerous and not acceptable.
If you must park on the road (which I won’t get into right now but how happy am I to see the double yellow lines) then park on the road not the pavement.
September 4th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
It’s pretty simple, people thought that they could park on the road and have more cars than they can fit on their drive. Now that’s not to say that the developers haven’t said “oh yes you can park on the road”, they may well have, but I don’t think its fair that the road should be made dangerous by a selfish minority.
September 5th, 2012 at 7:12 am
Hi Clive,
Is this because the roads are not yet adopted? Do we know when this is happening?
I hope they “fill in” the lines where cars were obviously parked during the painting!
September 5th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Morning All,
Regardless of enforceable yellow lines or not, and the confusion with that debate is much historically documented!
The point which has been raised in part – simply not taken any further beyond, is the matter of vehicles which park on the pavement – blocking full use of the pedestrian highway (preventing parents with children, buggies or senior citizens/disabled persons with limited or no mobility beyond the use of wheelchairs/scooters) is an offence beyond any yellow line debate.
Any vehicle which forces pedestrians within that list – who may encounter an accident because they are forced into the road in order to pass that obstructing vehicle, is liable in court!
Therefore, anyone who is sadly met with such an obstruction should call “101″ and report it as such for those reasons outlined – the vehicle will then be removed or fined. I accept there are difficulties surrounding parking but that doesn’t excuse those who feel they can simply cause obstruction of the highway for their own benefit.
September 5th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Hi KevB,
Yes it is. I’m afraid I don’t know the latest on the adoption schedules
barker77,
Many people here don’t have a drive at all.
Hank/Steve,
I agree, parking so far on the pavement as to make passage difficult for pedestrians is very dangerous and there’s really no excuse for it
September 5th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
The fact is if you don’t have a drive it doesn’t mean that you are entitled to park on a public road and people shouldn’t expect to have that right.
September 5th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Great to see the yellow lines even if they don’t apply!
Thatcham Avenue is an accident waiting to happen, the yellow lines are not going to work as we can see already.
I don’t think this issue will ever be resolved.
September 5th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
blastu2 – let’s hope some people get towed/fined and perhaps the message will get around
SSTAR – truth is no-one does anything to report offenders
September 5th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Does not anyone see this is a work in progress… just chill for a while!
September 6th, 2012 at 11:17 am
People do expect to be able to park on public roads in suburban residential areas, probably because – anywhere else in Gloucester (and >95% of the UK), it is possible! That discussion has been kicked to death over the past 5 years here – and will probably go on for as long as it takes to settle down (as I’m sure it will gradually). It’s very unfortunate that the temporary legislation in place when Kingsway was planned has left us in this situation, but I’m pretty certain that the Highways Dep’t will have their work cut out to find a solution once they take ownership. Meanwhile I agree with the general concensus that parking on pavements can be very dangerous and should certainly be discouraged, but – with regard to parking in general, I find myself in agreement with nono (
)… it is a work in progress and I’m sure it will work itself out in time.
September 6th, 2012 at 10:21 pm
We’ve had six years for it to work itself out. It hasn’t.
Parking on the pavement is not only a stupid, dangerous and selfish thing to do but an offence, regardless of whether the land is council owned or not. These people will not learn, until they get charged for causing an accident, or have their pride and joy towed away and a bill for the storage.
A bit of proactive, forward thinking is needed. How about our local councillors get together with the Police and/or PCSO’s and walk the streets involved. Owners of the cars that are parked on the pavement can be checked by the Police and found out their correct address. A quick knock on the door by the local bobby to let the driver know that it is an offence, should be enough for them to move it. Especially if they are warned that the car will be towed away of not moved by a certain time period.
No answer? A Police notice under the windscreen wiper informing them, might be just good enough.
It’s not rocket science. Just needs some planning, and an area Sergeant with some balls.
September 6th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Oh, and Barker77 is right about drives and garages. People should use them.
I would just like to add that if you do have a car (or more than 1) and the slightest ounce of common sense, you don’t buy a house without a drive.
No brainer.
September 7th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
No argument about the danger of parking on pavements, (although I’m still not sure that the Police can tow cars from private land).
No argument either about people using their drives and garages… they should, but that alone will not solve the problems here. The fact remains that Kingsway is suffering badly from a lack of public parking and the argument about parking on drives and using garages (which I fully support) will not solve the problem itself.
One car per household is well below the national average and the reason the legislation was changed after so short a time is because it is untenable… Somehow Kingsway needs to overcome this problem, and until we do I’m afraid we will probably all need to be a little patient.