Double yellow lines victory for Hartlepool residents

Hartlepool Borough Council neighbourhood and services committee unanimously passed proposals to paint the yellow lines in Park Avenue at its meeting on Wednesday.

Residents said the stretch of road, between The Parade and Cresswell Road, needs the double yellow lines painted due to safety concerns created by vehicles parked up.

A committee report found in general, people parking in this location were visiting Ward Jackson Park and a car park is provided on the corner of The Parade/Park Avenue providing alternative parking.

Fran Johnson, chair of Park Residents Association, said: “It’s about the safety issues for residents there.

“Residents coming out of their drives are having to pull right out into the road to be able to see traffic coming left and right.

“I live around the corner and I’d rather have cars parked outside my house if it improved the safety for everyone in the area.”

Residents also urged the importance of the double yellow lines stretching to prevent parking on the bends of The Parade and Cresswell Road.

Coun Brenda Loynes, who represents the area on the council, said at the meeting the double yellow lines are ‘desperately needed’ in the area.

The committee also agreed to look into the condition of the nearby car park and to trim bushes back to encourage as many people as possible to use the car park and visit the park.

Objections were received by one person who argued the proposed restrictions north of the zebra crossing ‘are not required and will transfer parking to more inappropriate locations’.

They also said the problems occurred usually just when events were on.

However council bosses said it is has been an ongoing issue in the area that persisted not just during events.

Council highways, traffic and transport team leader Peter Frost said: “It’s a long standing problem, we don’t just rush out and put yellow lines in places.

“Someone drove up earlier and there was half a dozen cars parked there.”

Chair of the meeting Coun Stephen Akers-Belcher said it was ‘very difficult’ for members to argue against the plans as they were a ‘safety measure’.

The yellow lines are be estimated to cost approximately £500, which would be met from existing council revenue budget.

Nic Marko , Local Democracy Reporting Service