A DUNOON ward councillor has called for the new parking ban to be temporarily lifted on select roads in Innellan, following traffic chaos last week, which resulted in a suspended bus service.
Dunoon ward councillor Daniel Hampsey, (Conservative), confirmed on social media at the weekend that he had lodged an urgent case with Argyll and Bute Council, to temporarily suspend the parking ban around the Wyndham Road and North Campbell Road area of Innellan.
Councillor’s Hampsey’s request followed traffic chaos on these roads last week when a West Coast Motors bus was unable to pass through Wyndham Road due to parked cars, which had previously been parked on the pavement.
Its understood the traffic warden issued a load of £100 fines to car owners who had mounted the kerb outside their homes on Wyndham Road. Complying with the parking ban they then left their cars on the street, making an already tight road even tighter.
A portion of councillor’s Hampsey’s Facebook post read: “I have formally requested that the council temporarily suspend enforcement in these areas while a more permanent and practical solution is explored. While I fully recognise the importance of the ban in certain locations – especially in the town centre – I have always been clear it is essential that a common-sense approach is taken. This means balancing pedestrian and road safety with a pragmatic and fair approach to enforcement.”
Video footage uploaded to social media last week showed one West Coast Bus struggling to pass the parked vehicles. Its understood that service has now been temporarily rerouted to the Shore Road.
Murray Rogers, regional operations manager at West Coast Motors, said: “We are working with Argyll and Bute Council, who are addressing the impact of pavement parking prohibitions in Dunoon and Rothesay, particularly on large vehicle access. Due to potential damage and blockage risks, Wyndham Road usage is currently suspended, pending solutions. We will continue to keep our customers updated.”
One resident who witnessed the bus trying to pass the parked cars commented: “I’ve been living on Wyndham Road for 20 years and have never been aware of any major problem with parking partially on the pavement to allow the buses, gritters etc to get past, as long as they leave enough room for pedestrians and pushchairs. Who decided it was a good idea to fix something that wasn’t broken?”
Bobby Edwardson, lives on Wydham Road, last week he and his wife each received £100 parking fines from the local traffic warden on the same day. He said: “My wife and I were both booked on March 19, as were many on Wyndham Road. Everyone affected moved their cars, (which were only a tyre width on the path at most), the bus that comes up our way a couple of times a day is 2.8m wide, with the cars now on the road the space available is only 2.85m, leaving very little room for the bus. Subsequently we got news from Innellan Primary School that the bus company had suspended the service meaning some kids will now be dropped off on the Shore Road and will need to walk up the hill to the school.”
Bobby added: “I personally think this rule has now made the road unsafe, it’s only a matter of time until cars get damaged or someone gets hurt, as it stands I very much doubt the refuse vehicles will be able to get through to empty the bins. Residents parked their cars partly on the footpath in order that cars, vans and buses could get along the road safely and there was plenty of room for pedestrians and those with prams/buggies to negotiate their way along the footpath. I only hope there isn’t a need for a fire engine anytime soon.
“Never before has the warden visited our road in the four years we’ve lived here, this rule is clearly a means for the council to get more funds from the parking fines but as like most local authorities run by poor house keepers the extra money gained by this rule will be wasted away. My wife and I have objected to our fines which are now on hold pending further investigation.
“We all thought that Wyndham Road would have been a case for exemption to the rule and that the council would use some common sense but I guess that’s just too much to ask.”
Its understood that the council’s Network and Standards team are scheduled to meet with the local authority’s executive director Kirsty Flanagan, to discuss this and other reported issues with the pavement parking ban at locations across the town.
An Argyll and Bute spokesperson said: “The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 bans pavement parking to keep vulnerable pedestrians safe. They should not be forced off the pavement and onto the road by parked cars. The bus has been re-routed along Shore Road. We would urge people to make use of driveways, if they have them, and to park in line with roads’ legislation.”
