Woolton Hill villager highlights parking dangers

Workers line up vehicles along narrow country lane

A WOOLTON Hill villager has highlighted the dangers posed by contractors’ vehicles lined up on a country lane – a ‘walk-to-school’ route.

Villager, Nick Casey, of Paddock End, said he fears for the safety of his ‘family of 12’, including two adults, five children aged between one and and 10, along with the family’s two dogs and three cats who live immediately next to the Harwood Place development, by Bloor Homes, in Tile Barn Row.

“We are feeling rather frustrated by how inconsiderate Bloor Homes is being, they (Bloor Homes) continue to demonstrate their lack of respect for the village and its inhabitants by failing to action and address the dangers and issues we have brought to their site manager’s attention on numerous occasions,” said Mr Casey, adding his on site, face-to-face complaints had fallen on “deaf ears”.

Specifically, he said contractors were parking along Tile Barn Row in “huge numbers” despite, he said, the developers having erected no parking signs which also, he claimed, contravened planning conditions.

This resulted, said Mr Casey, in a constricted traffic flow, with only enough space for vehicles to pass in one direction.

He said the vehicles were also parking very close to the Paddock End junction, making it “very dangerous” to exit the junction, due to lack of visibility.

There had been a couple of near misses he said in terms of accidents on the road, used by children and parents walking to school.

He said “I have pulled out and slammed on the anchors – you can’t see cars coming down.”

He also claimed that litter was being thrown through car windows and left along the roadside, with verges “churned up”.

Chris Walker, construction director for Bloor Homes Southern, said: “Due to the limited amount of spaces in the on-site car park, a number of our contractors have been parking their vehicles on Tile Barn Row opposite the development, which they are legally entitled to do, as there are no parking restrictions in place.

“However, due to the narrow width of this quiet country lane, traffic is only able to pass the parked cars in one direction at any time, meaning that in some instances vehicles are having to give way to oncoming traffic.

“Our site manager has met with members of East Woodhay Parish Council regarding the parking situation and following these discussions we have agreed to create an additional car park on site to minimise the number of vehicles parking on the road.

“Work has started on the new car park and we hope this will be ready to use by the end of this week.”