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Commuters spark parking problems
Nicola Pettit and her son Harry show the extent of the parking problems in Senwick Drive, Wellingborough
Frustrated residents living near a town train station have been struggling to access their own homes as commuters park along the pavements outside their properties.
Residents say the pavements along Chase Road, Senwick Drive and Colwell Road near Wellingborough train station are virtually impassable on weekdays as cars are parked right up onto the pavements.
They say they cannot even turn their cars around in the road because commuters have parked in every available space.
Resident Tony Abbott said: “It’s awful. I drive a van and I have to drive out of the area to turn it around.
“It’s because the commuters don’t want to pay for a ticket at the train station, and it makes it impossible for residents.”
Parents Mark and Nicola Pettit are forced to walk their son Harry - like many other school children now have to - down the middle of the road.
Mr Pettit, who lives in Senwick Drive, said: “We walk our son to school every day, we either cut through Colwell Road or Chase Road, lately there has been an influx of people parking on the kerbs, and not just half on the kerbs, but fully on the kerbs.
“We have to walk down the middle of the road, this is not safe for us or our son.”
Police have recently started to issue parking tickets in the area. It is illegal to park on a footpath.
Sgt Paul Goosey of Wellingborough town police said: “We will continue to monitor the parking issues in the Senwick Drive area and will tackle those motorists who cause an obstruction.”
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
wboro12
Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 04:31 PMThe thing is, the sreet being so narrow, even resident has to park on the pavement. So what makes a different between a resident or a commuter car on the pavement? You have to be realistic and think of thee ventually of a fire truck for example. There is no way that it could go through if cars are not parks on the pavement. Not everybody has a luxury to park in their own drive. So getting ride of commuters car won't solve the problem... But now, to make sure that everybody pays, there will be a resident permit for all the roads around the train station. I really found it disgusting that I have to pay to park my car in my own street. Even more, I am not guarantee a space and a damage on my car if somedody else is not parked properly... It's ridiculous!!
Finker
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 01:35 PMAdd a bit to all train tickets and make the parking free - cost has to come from somewhere. Problem solved. Aren't some of the car parks private firms though?
Aliss
Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12:25 PMPending Moderation
robbierunciman
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 11:04 PMusually it is cyclists on pavements that people make news - this shows that the real problem is cars. I wonder how many people who park have looked at their active travel options and actually live in Wellingboro? The person that blamed the railway company clearly has odd values, if want to drive to the station every day but cannot afford the train fare and the parking - get a new job or explore your options. I started cycling to my local station 12 miles away to save money (and lose weight) You might not like it but the railway company is behaving economically rationally. The supply of land for car parking is , there is a big demand - charge what the market will bear. Surely that is what most people who voted conservative in the last election want a free market.
Roberto
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 05:49 PMAliss, what planet are you on? We should move to let commuters move in? A bizarre argument. For your information, I was a commuter (to St Albans) before I took early retirment and I live near the station so I could walk there rather than drive. So now you're saying I should move. There are two in my household and my partner still works: AT THE HOSPITAL! We live here also so my partner can again walk to the hospital every day rather than drive and still does. So you see, we actually live here to be near work. It may interest you to know that houses often come up for sale in Bowhill and the area and sit unsold for months, and even a year or two as with my next door house. So, if commuters were to want to move nearer the station (and a good primary school) then they have lots of opportunity to do so! No Alliss, I am not moving as my partner walks to work at KGH. But if any commuter or hospital worker or school run mum wants to move here then buy one of the houses that are for sale! But, as I have said already if you must park in the area please consider those of us who actually live here before you park opposite a dropped kerb, on a grass verge or pavement or on the corner of the road - that's all we are asking is it too much to ask?
Safe street
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 04:14 PMThats a silly comment really, We should sell our house so commuters live there?? Doesnt make that much sense. We are all feeling the pinch, but im sure we are not putting pedestrians at risk, just to save a few quid!! We are asking people to park in the correct way. Not to go elsewhere!
Aliss
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 03:52 PMRoberto, your argument works both ways. If you "who have to put up with their street being used as a free long stay car park" really have a problem, then move. Free up the houses near the stations so that the commuters CAN buy them and walk to the station. Stop blaming them and blame the actual culprit - the rail companies gouging them for parking. (And your comment about "well paid" is a joke - a significant number of commuters are in "fuel poverty" because their annual transport costs chew up more than 20% of their income). I am absolutely on your side when you ask commuters to park legally and considerately, you're completely right there.
Roberto
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 11:54 AM"Safe Street" I think you sum up well what the majority of us, who have to put up with their street being used as a free long stay car park, want to say. That is, the argument about paying for parking at the station just doesn't wash. If you take a well paid job and want to commute then either live close to the station and walk, if not factor in all the costs including parking rather than rely on side street parking. Remember also, many side streets are in prblem areas are likely to end up residents only sooner or later you you will always be looking for that other spot to park! The other point raised, and I 100% agree, is if you really must clutter up residential streets please, please park legally and consider how the residents are going to drive in and out of their drives etc. That means, NOT parking on pavements and verges, NOT parking right opposite a dropped kerb so residents can enter and exit their drives safely, and do NOT park right on corners of roads, as in Bowhill. If you do you will quite likely get a ticket and I for one will say you deserve it!
Safe street
Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 07:58 AMWe are commuters and residents of this area, and would like to point out that when we all took our jobs in london. we had to factor in the price of the train fair and parking when we actually took the job, People have made this decision to take the London Job... For the person paying £80 per day to go to London, there is a weekly ticket, Costing just £140, saving you £260 per week. The Point is if the Commuters parked responsibly, we would not be having this problem, Sgt Goosey has done a great job, he has only removed the cars that are causing an obstruction. Sgt Goosey has had two cars taken away, and parking tickets have been allocated to the people who have parked without concideration for pedestrains or other road users. Well done Sgt Goosey and well done to the Evening Telegraph. Commuters, all we ask is that you take ours and our childerens safety into concideration.
the-red
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 07:03 PMif they park properly and not on pavements - then they can park where they like. unless its kettering of course - as every possible parking spot remotely near the town centre is either resident only, double yellow or p&d. stations really do need to lower parking costs as they are too dear.
nad
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 05:49 PMHaving spent £80 pounds on a return to London (and standing most of the way theree and back), being expected to fork out a further £8 to park your car for the day is awfull. If your a customer of the station then you should be able to park for free, especialy at the prices they charge for a train ticket. I'll continue to park outside the station car parks and if anyone wants to complain then I'll redirect them to the station that is running the extorion racket. just like everyone else, I'm not made of money but seem to be expected to line the pockets of the already well off share holders.
Roberto
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 05:40 PMWheel clamp the lot of them and lose the keys!
Isabel Ringer
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 03:46 PMPerhaps if pedestrians, when they are walking by, accidentally scratched all these cars parked illegally on the sidewalks the motorists might eventually get the message. East Midlands Trains gouging people for £8 a day are the real pigs here and must take the blame for this situation.
Pruned
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 01:56 PMI have the same problem where I live, what Sgt Goosey means a CPSO may meander by and thats your lot if your lucky.
englishsoup
Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 01:34 PMI don't want to state the obvious but the photograph with the store HARDLY EMPHASISES the lack of space on the path, the woman is walking side by side with her child, many walkways are only that width. If they are upset they should push a shopping trolley down the walkway and all it to hit the cars, the drivers would quickly find other places to part, NOT THAT I AM ENDORSING THIS ACTION.
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