NUNSTHORPE residents have welcomed moves to tackle parking chaos near their homes.
New parking restrictions will be imposed to improve safety along Redbourne Road close to the junction with Second Avenue.
Traffic engineers will install a single yellow line on one side of the road, easing the bottleneck which prevented residents from safely manoeuvring in and out of their driveways. Double yellow lines will also be put down at the junction itself.
The measures are included in a traffic regulation order approved this week by Councillor Peter Wheatley, the portfolio holder for regeneration and environment.
It was drawn up after a petition was presented to the council back in March.
Kevin Dayton, 52, of Redbourne Road, said: "If you've got a lot of cars parked on both sides of the road, you can't get safely in and out of your drive. By putting a yellow line down it will mean you can swing safely into your drive."
The order will also see sections of the existing single yellow line along Second Avenue, either side of the entrance to the Resource Centre removed.
Traffic engineers say Second Avenue is a more suitable place for parking as it has blocked paving between the road and the pavement – but it is currently illegal to park there between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.
However, residents are concerned that the cars currently parking on Redbourne Road will simply park outside their homes instead. It is believed that many of the cars belong to staff from the nearby hospital who do not want to pay for permits to park in the hospital grounds.
Petitioner John Stockton, vice chairman of the Second Avenue Resource Centre Board, said a residents parking permit system would be a much better option.
Second Avenue resident Jonathon Robinson, 39, said: "I can't get parked sometimes because of all the staff from the hospital. I would just like to be able to park outside my house and I think residents only parking would be a good idea."
Ward councillor Ray Oxby (Lab, South) said: "As ward councillors we are pleased to see that all the agencies and the residents are generally supportive of these changes.
"However, we will be actively seeking assurances from colleagues within the council that the new arrangements will be properly enforced."
Councillor Oxby said a residents parking permit system was an option that could be explored in the future, but added that the current proposals should be given a chance first.
Jug Johal, head of transport, car parking and security at the hospital, said: "We want to encourage our staff and visitors to park sensibly and we support this traffic regulation order. However, we cannot control where people park when they come to our hospitals.
"Our hospital car parking charges are some of the lowest in the region and we offer alternative forms of transport for people to try to reduce the number of vehicles coming to our sites.
"There is a frequent bus service which runs to the hospital, we provide a shuttle service for our staff between our Scunthorpe and Grimsby sites, and we have a cycle to work scheme and a car share facility. We have also been looking for an opportunity to deliver a park and ride service for our Grimsby hospital but so far we have not found anywhere suitable or economically viable."
