MOTORISTS set to be banned from parking outside their homes after a "knee-jerk" decision to restrict parking along Grimsby Road are urging others to oppose the plans.
As reported, new parking restrictions will be imposed in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, to prevent parked cars for sale clogging up the highway.
But "fuming" residents claim it will force them to park in the already congested side streets and will just push the selling of cars into other areas.
Now they are calling on others to show their outrage by logging objections to the order made by North East Lincolnshire Council's portfolio holder for environment, Councillor Peter Wheatley (Lab, Yarborough), before December 6 in an attempt to overturn the decision.
Andrew Restall, 42, of Grimsby Road, said: "Why are we getting penalised because people cannot sell their cars?
"They haven't thought this through at all.
"Yes, the cars for sale do pose a problem, but they are not half as bad as it used to be and this isn't going to fix it anyway.
"If they impose these restrictions, the car sellers are just going to move to a different area."
The restrictions will see on-street parking bays along the full length of Grimsby Road subject to a two-hour waiting restriction, with no return allowed within two hours between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.
The order was recommended by Highways bosses and agreed by Councillor Wheatley after a petition was presented to them on behalf of residents by Councillor Hazel Chase (Lab, Sidney Sussex), who claims she has seen 12 cars for sale along Grimsby Road at once.
But residents against the restrictions claim they did not know of any petition until they received a letter telling them of the order last week.
Residents speculate officials want the order "pushed through quickly" to gain revenue through fines.
Grimsby Road resident, Alistair Smith, said: "People sell cars illegally on a main road and their solution is to penalise tax paying residents.
"The council needs to raise its game and go after the bad guys for a change."
Another angry resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I cannot believe the council is even considering implementing this.
"It will make no difference, but cause absolute chaos for the rest of us.
"The person who has started this campaign must think again and so should the council. I cannot see how on earth this will improve anything."
If objections are made, the order will be discussed again at the next portfolio holder meeting on Tuesday, December 11, when there will be a chance the order will be overthrown – news that has been welcomed by Councillor Philip Jackson (Cons, Waltham) who predicted an "onslaught of objections" by residents at the council's regeneration, housing and environment scrutiny panel and described the measure as like using a "sledgehammer to crack a nut".
He said: "I have got great concerns that the residents who quite legitimately park their vehicles there now will not be able to park there for more than two hours.
"I did think about calling the decision in, but then I thought 'why should I?'. Let's just wait for the onslaught from residents."
Councillor Wheatley said: "We continually try to respond proactively to concerns raised by our residents. The proposed scheme was agreed as an urgent way of dealing with this issue.
Log your objections or support to Marc Cole Ref DSH/10579, Municiple Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby or online at www.nelincs.gov.uk
