3:22pm Tuesday 13th November 2007
WEEKE residents who are up in arms about proposed parking restrictions for their roads say they want flexibility.
About 40 of them met at Peter Symonds College on Friday (November 9) to discuss Winchester City Council proposals to stop parking in six streets between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday.
The residents say that their lives are blighted by college students parking in their roads often lining both sides of the street, but that such restrictions would make their lives more difficult, not easier.
At the meeting, they voted to ask for shorter hours, from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday, instead.
But the big worry was that the council had a blanket policy for the whole district, where every street has to have the same parking times, something the council confirmed this week.
The meeting was organised by resident Steve Feeney who, like many present, said he was against parking restrictions completely, but said it might be the only way forward.
The plans cover Vernham Road, St Matthews Road, Wessex Drive, St Stephens Road, Kynegils Road and Lynch Close.
Mr Feeney said: "Parking is an issue in Vernham Road during term times and it is only during term times as far as I can see."
The college now has 2,820 students and some residents were worried that the new restrictions, if imposed, would simply move the problem further into the Weeke estate.
Clive Beard, of Vernham Road, said: "We're not resolving the problem, we're just shifting it somewhere else.
"They will park wherever they will park and will walk as far as they have to."
He said alternatives were needed, including more parking onsite.
College bursar, Paul Warren, who was present, said "a lot of sense" had been spoken at the meeting and that he was "embarrassed" by the parking problems caused by students "We actively encourage them (students) to come on public transport, or on foot, or on bikes.
"I know this parking is a massive problem, I want to try and find a solution," he said.
Two city councillors for the area, Anne Saunders and Eileen Berry, went along and said they would press the council to go with the shorter restriction times.
Cllr Saunders said it was "perfectly reasonable" to have different times for different roads.
Other suggestions included expanding the Park and Ride bus route to include the college and more parking on site. Mr Warren said he would welcome talks with the city council on those ideas.
Council traffic engineer, Neville Crisp, said: "We will listen to the residents of Weeke about the restrictions they want to see put in place, however we do currently have a controlled zone order for the whole of the city between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.
"A variance from this scheme could cause problems with enforcement and we need to ensure that any new scheme can be effectively implemented.
"This is an important decision which will be decided by councillors as soon as possible."
The deadline for comments to the council is this Friday, (November 15).
*What do you think about student parking in the city? Are you affected either as a resident or student?
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