Row over Hungerford pavement parking space
Earlier this month the Newbury Weekly News reported how jeweller Tommy Keeble had clashed with councillors and some fellow traders after he began parking his BMW on the pavement outside his new shop.
Mr Keeble, owner of T Keeble Jewellers, maintains he is legally entitled to park there and that he is being harassed.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the town council’s highways and transport committee heard that others are now following Mr Keeble’s lead.
Alana Wilson said: “I’ve seen at least four other people doing it now.”
Committee chairman Roger Thompson told the meeting: “There’s a real head of steam building up on this issue. Just about everyone and his dog has had a go at solving this and nothing has been achieved.”
The story prompted a flurry of responses from readers, a brief selection of which is reproduced below.
Shelagh Parry said: “I’d like to ask both West Berkshire Council and the police which other pavements I can park on all day without facing any penalty.
“I am sure other Hungerford residents would also welcome free all-day parking. People who are partially-sighted, or even people in wheelchairs, face problems with this car being on the pavement.”
Chain Mail newsletter columnist, ‘the Old Codger’ said: “It just cannot be a designated parking place – it is a pavement with paving stones. It is unsightly and, being a new person in town, maybe he will appreciate that we like the look of our uncluttered pavements.”
He added: “It also partially obscures pedestrian and driver views of the pedestrian crossing ... as it is we already have an obstruction problem with the telephone kiosk on the other side.”
Lou Carr said: “We are residents of the High Street and have to pay for the pleasure of parking there.
“In the eight years that we’ve lived here we’re always being stalked by the traffic wardens as a lot of the time we cannot park near our home.”
However, Mr Keeble has insisted: “At the end of the day I’m allowed to park there and the police have confirmed it.”
At the conclusion of the meeting it was resolved to ask West Berkshire Council’s legal department to take action.