‘It’ll take a child being knocked down’: Barnsley residents demand action on parking
A Barnsley resident fears a child could be hurt on his narrow street unless parking issues are tackled, as councillors press for residents-only permits in Old Town.
“It’s going to take a child being knocked down to solve the parking,” said Richard Kemp, who has lived on Blackburn Lane, off Summer Lane, for more than 30 years.
The terraced street is among those in the Central and Old Town wards where residents say finding a space near home has become increasingly difficult. Parents sometimes park on Blackburn Lane for drop-off and collection at a nearby primary school, while other drivers leave their cars in the area to walk into town or go to work.
Richard said neighbours have to arrange their cars around visits from family. He has relied on his son and daughter since having a heart valve replacement six weeks ago. He also recalled emergency services struggling to reach his home when it caught fire around 20 years ago, and believes access has become harder since.
Coun Phillip Lofts will call on Barnsley Council at Thursday’s full council meeting to reinstate residents-only parking on residential streets in Central and Old Town.
He said the problem went beyond residents being unable to park outside their homes. On some streets, parked cars leave too little room for bin lorries to pass, meaning householders have to take their bins to a collection point at the top or bottom of the road.
On nearby Hope Street, Ann Bowler said she often worries about finding a space when she returns home.
“I pray when I leave my daughter’s: please let there be a parking space,” she said.
Ann said her daughter sometimes has to park further along the street and carry her baby back to the house when dropping her off. After two hip replacements, Ann also finds it difficult to carry shopping from a distant parking space.
She said hospital staff were among those parking nearby, but did not blame them. “I really don’t mind, to be honest, because it’s atrocious the amount of money they pay,” she said.
“But we are very tight, very tight on space,” she added. “It’s getting a lot worse.”
The councillors said they did not blame parents or hospital workers for needing somewhere to leave their cars. Coun Lofts said school-run parking was generally brief, but demand from schools, the hospital, local businesses and people heading into town was being felt on streets with limited space.
Coun Jo Newing said residents raised parking complaints with her frequently. The council is due to respond to Coun Lofts’ request for permits at Thursday’s meeting.