A council was branded “bonkers” yesterday (mon) after roadside parking areas left the centre of the city street wide enough for a motorbike to pass – but too narrow for a CAR.
The residential road in Plymouth, Devon, has long parking bays stretching down either side of the street, next to the pavement.
The parking scheme in Cross Park Avenue means the centre of the road is just a few feet wide, leaving the road totally unusable if the bays are filled.
One resident said: “It’s totally bonkers. We need to park, but people also need to be able to use the road too.”
Another local said: “Now cars can park both sides, but how the hell are you meant to drive in the centre?
“It’s funny yes, but once again the council is wasting our cash and taxes.”
Plymouth City Council said the zones on both sides of the road were introduced more than ten years ago but had been re-painted over the years following fading or resurfacing.
City Council Leader Ian Bowyer said: “The controlled parking zone in Cross Park Road, Cross Park Avenue and Cross Park Way is not new – it was introduced over 10 years ago, at the specific request of residents.
“Permit holders are given the flexibility of being able to park anywhere within the marked areas, while using common sense to allow space for their neighbours and other drivers to get past.
“As a local ward councillor who has attended residents’ meetings for some time I can personally vouch for the fact that residents support this scheme and that it has worked very well for many years.
“We’ve not received any complaints about it blocking access for traffic.
“Although residents can park on either side of the road, one side tends to be used more than the other but where the markings have been worn away in the past residents have been quick to request they be repainted.
“The markings were last repainted a year ago, following resurfacing of the road.”
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