Councillors approve parking restrictions to stop ‘nuisance’ parking but some residents ‘disadvantaged’

Lizzie Dearden, Reporter Saturday, September 15, 2012
9:00 AM

Councillors approved new evening parking restrictions in Gants Hill to stop people being disturbed by “screaming, shouting and slamming doors”.

Residents had complained to Redbridge council that visitors to the area’s pubs and clubs were a nuisance parking outside their homes.

Restrictions will now be introduced on the corner of Otley Drive and Parnham Drive, and on Headley Drive on the approach to Parnham Drive.

Parking will be restricted from 11.30pm to 2am every night.

The restrictions also apply on Monday to Saturday daytimes to prevent commuters using the roads.

They were approved at the area four committee meeting in William Torbitt primary school in Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park, on Thursday.

Chairman Cllr Ashley Kissin said: “We are hoping that restrictions going into the early hours of the morning will let people have a proper night’s sleep without being disturbed by screaming, shouting and slamming doors.”

Most residents who responded to a consultation on the plans were in favour of the restrictions.

All respondents in Headley Approach, which would not be directly affected, supported the evening restrictions but 86 per cent of respondents in Otley Drive voted against the plans.

Residents in Otley Drive, Parnham Drive and Headley Drive will not be able to use the restricted parts of the road.

Several people commented in the survey that the restrictions are “unfair” to nearby residents whose family and friends could no longer park on the road, or who could not park themselves.

A council report on the plans said: “Residents who need to park on-street will be disadvantaged and may feel aggrieved.”

It added that the restrictions may displace nuisance parking into other nearby roads.

The cost of the work will be £4,500, paid for out of the parking management budget.