Gloucester rugby parking problems to end?
Plans to solve parking issues around Kingsholm at Gloucester Rugby home matches have been welcomed by residents.
Community groups and police met at the club on Saturday to discuss the proposed new parking restrictions in the area, including a residents’ permit scheme to stop rugby supporters blocking drives.
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Joseph Whitfield, who lives in Gambier Parry Gardens, said: “We have had lots of trouble with parking.
“At the moment we seem to provide parking for a large number of Gloucester Rugby fans who don’t want to park in the park-and-ride or other spaces.
“They drive here close to kick-off and, desperate to find a space, they just park anywhere.
“I think this is long overdue and I am delighted that action is being taken.”
Other plans include ‘no waiting/ no loading at any time’ areas, single yellow lines, four school bus stops and mandatory school keep-clear restrictions.
Richard Cole from Estcourt Road said: “I recognise there are concerns of residents about inappropriate parking and that does need to be addressed.
“However, we also have to understand that this happens only maybe 15 or 16 times a year and it does bring in a lot of business to our local community.
“It is all about finding a balance.”
Dan Tiffney, from Gloucestershire Highways, said the final plans had not been decided yet.
He said: “We have listened to comments from residents and parking enforcement officers that deal with the parking problems at the moment and we have come up with some proposed changes and some restrictions to be put in on match days.
“There will be some junctions with no parking at any time and others will just come into effect on match days.
“On these days areas around the rugby club like Lansdown Road and Denmark Road get really busy and they need to be kept clear for emergency access and people in their homes.”
“We are in consultation about these new measures and when something does happen it will be experimental for a six-month period where we can keep making changes if need be.”
Gloucester City Council will enforce the changes and Gloucestershire police will also help with the new plans.
Chief Inspector John Lynch-Warden, from Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: “The intention has always been that we consult with the community on the parking issues. We are looking at action and it all seems to be quite positive.”
At the time of going to press, The Citizen was unable to contact anyone from Gloucestershire Rugby for a comment.
5 Comments
by Jonathan, Kingsholm
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 10:34PM
“The comment about this only happening on 15 or 16 times a season is fair, anyone who lives in Kingsholm knows about the rugby (or they were incredibly lax in their research of the area before moving in) and it doesn´t take much planning not to arrive home when the rugby crowd are turning up. That said, some people do park inconsiderately and take up a space suitable for two cars or park right on junctions, that is just bad manners.
I wouldn´t advocate the approach suggested of removing your key from your pocket some way before reaching your front door, we have already had a car-keyer in our road who did considerable damage to a car, that is just sheer vandalism. Personally I wouldn´t want to see a paid permit system, I can´t find anyone who lives in an area where one exists with anything positive to say about it. Putting up with a few occasional issues on parking is a small price to pay for living in that area of the city.”
by dave, quedgeley
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 7:50PM
“Simple answer.Turn Kingsholm into a much needed city centre car park.Simple.Job done!”
by Phil, Kingsholm
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 2:55PM
“This has been a problem since the 70's & 80's. Many times my parents called the Police because vehicles had parked on the pavements and an ambulance couldn't get through or young mum's with pushchairs were forced to walk in the road by inconsiderate drivers.
The fact is a law abiding driver is entitled to park his vehicle on the road. As long as he is insured and taxed and not causing an obstruction there is not alot can be done.
If however an inconsiderate drive is causing an obstruction, the relevant authority should react quickly.
Alternatively do like my old man used to do and get your front door key out early as you walk down the pavement. It wasn't his fault all the cars were parked there.
He cleared them pavements faster than any bobby or traffic warden!”
by geraint, gloucester
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 12:04PM
“Surely the only long-term solution is for the Club to build a new multi-story car park onsite? This could available to the general public on non-match days to boost Club funds.”
by John Smith, The Shed
Tuesday, March 16 2010, 11:26AM
“If the police/council had bothered to give out tickets for the blatantly dangerous parking that has been taking place every day of a home match may be people would have got the message! The longer you leave the problem the more people think they can get away with it”