PARKING and traffic issues in the Oldfield Park/Oldfield Road area could soon be addressed.
Residents have complained to the town council that the area is a hot spot for traffic congestion due to its proximity to Westbury Junior School.
The town council had already agreed to proposals, at a meeting in June, from Wiltshire Council’s principal traffic highways engineer that would see parking restrictions (no waiting at any time) on Queen’s Road near the Groves on the corners of the dropped curb and path crossing point, as well as parking restrictions (no waiting 8.30am -9.30am and 3pm to 4.pm) at Oldfield Park near the school.
The waiting restrictions would be enforced during school pick-up and drop-off times to prevent parking and congestion problems, but relaxed out of these hours so that they do not impact residents that need to park outside their houses after work or in the evening.
The parking issues in the area were discussed by the town council at a meeting of their highways, planning and development committee on Monday 22nd August.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr Pauline Stallard said, “I think this is a fantastic idea and hopefully it will do something to alleviate some of the problems in that area. I have a family member who lives in that area who really struggles to get off their drive in the mornings, so I know that this is a problem.”
The local highways and footways improvement group (LHFIG) of Wiltshire Council discussed the plans earlier last month and suggested adding an H-bar in front of one driveway to help alleviate one resident’s particular access issue.
The HP&D committee discussed this at the meeting last week and felt that this wouldn’t help the situation, especially if vehicles continue to have the opportunity to park opposite. The committee requested waiting restrictions are considered again by the LHFIG at their next meeting in October.
