I have every sympathy with the residents' efforts to circumvent badly parked vehicles.
In Borehamwood we have a serious problem that has no easy solution.
When the town was substantially developed after the Second World War, car ownership was much lower and the planners did not envisaged that so many households would have one, two or even three vehicles.
This leaves us with the current dilemma of too many vehicles for the available road space.
What we can do, however, is get the message out there that it is distinctly unsociable to park so that ones car or van obstructs the footway for those with double buggies or mobility carts.
Legally a vehicle can be ticketed if less that one metre width – the approximate width of a double buggy – is left for passers by on the footway.
Our PCSOs do their best to police this, but are generally fairly lenient and often engaged in more urgent work. There is an issue in my road with two or three people regularly parking such that the footway is obstructed.
The message therefore is please park considerately so that a double buggy can get by and remain on the pavement.
I understand that the government is possibly going to introduce a much more extensive ban on parking on footways, as currently exists in London.
I believe this would be a complete disaster for Borehamwood as I know of roads where there is nowhere to park that would not block access for emergency vehicles and still be within reasonable walking distance other than on the footway. I shall be closely monitoring this proposal.
So please consider most carefully when you park your vehicle: is it obstructing the footway for a double buggy? Is it blocking the road for an emergency vehicle? If so, than park somewhere else!
Our next Transport and Road Safety Forum, where such issues are discussed, will take place on 9th May at Fairway Hall, Brook Close WD6 5BT, starting at 7.00pm. All are welcome. I look forward to seeing you there.
Clive Butchins, Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council. Chairman of Transport and Road Safety Forum
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