Call for action on Parkgate promenade parking problem

Aug 6 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Hoylake and West Kirby News

BLATANT law breaking and lack of enforcement is infuriating Parkgate residents who say parking on their promenade is an “accident waiting to happen”.

For years now families have journeyed to Parkgate in the summer holidays for an ice cream or some fish and chips.

Problems surface when they leave their cars parked on the double yellow lines which stretch the length of Parkgate promenade.

Resident Damien McGrath, an accountant, said: “People are blatantly flouting the parking laws daily and police don’t seem to be doing anything about it.

“The yellow lines are there for a reason - to avoid obstruction and provide high visibility.

“This situation is an accident waiting to happen.”

Another resident, Joe Kennedy, said: “I have lived here for 40 years and haven’t seen any parking laws being enforced.

“I don’t know how motorists have escaped killing a child because people park so tightly.”

This autumn, parking in the area will be decriminalised and Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council will control parking enforcements.

Until then, police will continue to produce parking tickets.

PC Martin Ellis said: “Historically, parking in Parkgate is a major problem and it is not something we ignore.

“Offences are being committed and we are enforcing them.

“We slap loads of tickets on cars but the difficulty is within five minutes new people will be parked there - we can’t just patrol Parkgate eight hours a day.

Parkgate councillor Nils Anderson said: “I do want local businesses to do well, but we need their customers to park sensibly and not inconvenience the residents or cause obstruction.”