Parking Concerns
Langbank Community Council has this year received an increased number of appeals for motorists to show more consideration towards others.
Parking is an issue regularly raised at council meetings. While it is acknowledged that not every resident has private parking the council asks motorists who have to leave their vehicle on the street to do so in a way that does not cause a problem for pedestrians and other road users.
People using prams have expressed their feeling of vulnerability when having to go on to the road because a parked car has left insufficient room to pass on the pavement.
The potential danger is increased because many residents have witnessed drivers travelling at an inappropriate speed within the village, and possibly could not stop in time to avoid a collision with another vehicle. In addition, such an accident could lead to a vehicle ending up on a pavement and striking a pedestrian.
Drivers should keep an eye on their speed wherever they go, but LCC believes this is particularly important within the village. There would seem little doubt there has been a growing amount of traffic within the village in recent years. More delivery vans are coming into the village as on-line shopping becomes more popular but, at the same time, the need for residents to leave the village to buy items such as daily newspapers has been a consequence of the village store’s closure. It could be argued there is now a higher risk of accidents, minor or otherwise, within the village.
A factor that also has to be taken into account is that cars have been getting wider in the past 40 years or so, thus effectively reducing the width of roads. For example, a popular family car such as the Volkswagen Golf is now more than a foot wider, including mirrors, than the original model of 1974.
On the question of mirrors, it makes sense for motorists to fold the in when parking on the street, not forgetting the nearside one if it makes it easier for pedestrians to pass on the pavement.
Police representatives regularly attend LCC meetings and have been made aware of concerns about parking and speeding. They have promised to monitor both matters and will take action where appropriate.
LCC once again advises residents to be constantly vigilant when using the roundabout and be aware that other drivers are continuing to drive straight through, regardless of the most recent efforts to make the roundabout safer.
