A beautiful sunny afternoon for canvassing down Moorgate on Sunday. The tenants in the sheltered housing down Moorgate and South Terrace were all lovely, and I found myself chatting a bit too much and perhaps not being as “productive” as I ought to be.
One reason for talking so long was the number of complains and grumbles that they had about the road and the area.
I know the area quite well because our Joel goes to Moorgate Nursery and to a nearby child-minder. I know that parking is a problem and that the road surface is bad. However what I didn’t realise was that the road surface is so poor because HGV’s regularly use the street as a cut through to Aughton Street, and I wasn’t prepared for the outright objection to the residents parking that will soon be introduced in the area.
One would think that residents only parking would be a good thing and I’m sure that there are residents who want it to be introduced – although we didn’t meet a single one. The main objections seemed to be the price and an apparent unfairness that those without off-street parking were being penalised compared to those that could park in a drive. Given that they are all Council tenants in sheltered accomodation, that seems like a reasonable response. The other objection was that even after spending £35 for a parking permit for themselves and visitors there still wasn’t any guarantee that they would get a parking space (remember these pensioners already pay the Council upwards of £75 per week in rent).
The residents only parking scheme also impacts local businesses on Aughton Street who rely on customers being able to park nearby. It also means that staff at Moorgate Nursery and Childrens Centre will have to find somewhere else to park since they won’t be able to park near to the nursery any more.
I am told that someone with a clipboard briefly spoke to some of the residents and passers-by last year and this was the basis of the “consultation” that led to the scheme being put in place. Thankfully it is a 12 month trial which means that it can be objectively be reviewed this time next year – but all those who I spoke to were deeply unhappy about something that they have repeatedly objected to in the past and is now being forced upon them.
On a different note, one resident pointed out that the trains have started sounding their horns occasionally as they pass by. Now that might (might!) be easier to resolve than the town’s perennial parking problems.