Parking in the High Street

[jamiebowen]

Cllrs Redmore & Flag were seen with the Parish Clerk today, discussing parking in the high street with a chap from the highways department.

After chatting with them on the roadside I am concerned that they do not understand the full parking issues in this area of the high street, and would rather they undertake to TALK to the local people that know the situation there.

The parking situation in this area (dog's leg that often occurs at the point between the gates of Yew Tree Farm and Chantry Cottage) has evolved over time. In some ways evolution often leads to the best situation. When no dog's leg is in evidence at this part of the road, the average speed of vehicles through the high street is around 10-15 mph higher than when there is no dog's leg.

To my knowledge, no vehicle passage has ever been blocked through the high street (due to not being able to fit their vehicle through the dog's leg) except for a few rare occasions when Saturday afternoon temporary football club/pub traffic has double parked.

Also the dog's leg has evolved to allow pedestrians using the pavement to continue their passage down the high street without having to cross over from behind parked cars that would be parked entirely on the pub side of the road.

To prevent parking on the Yew Tree Farm side of the road would in my opinion (an I have lived at this point in the road for nine years now) be the worst of all situations. It would result in;

Increased vehicle speed
Cars would race down the 'corridor' to avoid having to reverse should they meet another car before clearing the parked cars. I've seen this happen when there is no dog's leg. Also we have had cars wheel spinning away from the pub as fast as possible, in effect 'drag racing'. The dog's leg prevents that.

Highly compromised road crossing
In order to move down the high street (much used during the school run in the mornings), it would be necessary to cross the road when the pavement runs out outside Chantry Cottage, over to the opposite side of the road. This would involve leaving the pavement and crossing between parked cars. This is notoriously dangerous. It is hard for children to see over cars, and so they often run out into oncoming traffic. This is my major objection.

Jamie

[merlin]

Like many others who live in the parish I am greatly concerned with the conduct of Wookey Parish Council, who presently seem to stumble from one crisis to another without due respect for the electorate who they are supposed to represent.

This latest antic leaves one thinking are these two councillors and the Clerk there independanlty as members of the electorate? or are they acting on behalf of the council? It is hoped that it the latter as there does not appear to be a resolution by majority vote of the whole council to request the Highways Dept to inspect the parking in Wookey High Street. I fear they were there as councillors.

I cannot comment on the parking other than; if this action was undertaken by two councillor and the Clerk without consideration or consultation with the rest of the council, the electorate and those who live along High Street , many of whom have no facility for off road parking it is entirely unacceptable. Parish Councils I believe are there to represent the people of the parish, how can they do this without communicating with them. Perhaps a word of advice for the council would be to fulfil that for which they have the power or duty to do and consult with those they represent.

However, the council do have the power to provide car parking for vehicles perhaps the provision of a village car park would be a more community considerate alternative for their efforts. Alternatively perhaps those who dwell in the High Street should park in Henly Lane where the road is much wider.

Another outlet for their energy would be to fulfil their legal obligation to supply allotments as resolved at the Annual Parish Meeting some two years ago. Last thing heard was that the Clerk was to source land.

Further concerns are that all councillors are residents of Wookey Village leaving the rest of the parish, Worth, Yarley, Henton, Bleadney and Fenny Castle seriously under represented. Perhaps people from outside the village would like to see the conservation of the integrity of this historic village High Street without the insertion of hidiouse traffic calming bumps and bright yellow stripes along the roadside. Or maybe the rest of the council would like to have a voice.

Merlin

[selion]

Just a quick message to the PC. The Chairman is unable to read this but I hope someone will tell her! 1 I completely agree that such actions without authorisation from the PC by resolution are illegal 2 The last thing the High Street in Wookey needs is "no parking", "yellow lines", "bumps". The best way of slowing traffic, despite the number of uninsured vehicles the police permit on the roads, is to park vehicles - long may it continue 3 Those residents who persistently park cars with wheels on the pavement should stop doing so - the pave emnt is for pedestrians and in any case is not constructed to take vehicle weights
Selion

[merlin]

The Highways Agency are not responsible for the drains as stated in PC minutes.
Merlin