Parkside Residents Voices are heard!

10.49.29pm GMT Sat 24th Mar 2007

Bob Smith working with parkside resident Mike MacCoughlan on parking proposals

Surrey County Council (SCC) has conceded that its plans for parking restrictions on the Parkside Estate do not have the support of the majority of residents there, and that further consultations with residents is required to reach a broadly acceptable scheme.

As part of measures to address the issue of parking caused by Frimley Park Hospital, SCC had proposed to put long stretches of single yellow lines on certain roads within the estate, which would have prevent residents from parking outside their own homes from 09:30 to 4:30 Monday to Saturday. Many residents expressed strong objections in particular to restrictions on a Saturday, voicing the views that as they were not the cause of the problem, they should not be penalised by the solution.

Following advice from local Lib Dem Councillor Bob Smith, residents on the estate subsequently went on to form a residents committee to press for other options to be considered, and in particular that a properly worked out residents parking scheme be presented as an option.

Following extensive lobbying, SCC has now agreed to go ahead with double lining on junctions where there are safety issues, but to work on with residents to explore more options. The residents committee itself has committed to work constructively with the SCC and to fully feedback all the discussions to residents on the estate in order to reach the best solution.

Cllr Bob Smith said:" I am pleased with this solution. The joint working will minimise the delay in the adoption of the final scheme, and it is very positive to see that residents joining together CAN ensure their voices are heard in matters that affect their own areas."