Parking protest in yellow lines row (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Residents leave cars on unpainted spaces as legal wrangle over restrictions drags on in Dirkhill Road, Great Horton
9:00am Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News
MIND THE GAP: Mohammed Khan with the lines
Embattled residents are making a sit-down protest with a difference by refusing to move their cars and so prevent fresh yellow lines being painted outside their homes.
Householders in Dirkhill Road, Great Horton , have been locked in a six-year feud with Council highways’ bosses over yellow lines which they say are not needed and prevent them from parking in fear of fines.
The waiting restrictions prevent on-street parking from 8am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6pm.
And car owners claim wardens slap tickets on windscreens the moment those time limits come into force.
When the Telegraph & Argus broke the news in June that the hated lines would be removed as part of a traffic review, residents’ spokesman Mohammed Khan said other locals were delighted.
“But nothing has happened since then and the problem seems to have been put on the backburner, which isn’t good enough,” said father-of five Mr Khan, 37. However, the road has recently been resurfaced and was left line-free for two months – until Sunday night.
“They came in the night while we were asleep and put down the new single and double yellow lines even though they are supposed to be getting rid of them soon,” said Mr Khan.
“But they couldn’t do the whole street – so the residents have arranged a system so there will always be a car parked on any unpainted spaces.
“There are three car-sized gaps where they have not been able to complete the double or single yellow lines.”
Mr Khan said they would rotate vehicles in the style of towels being left on poolside sunbeds.
“It’s a gentle but serious form of protest because we want this matter sorted out quickly and once and for all,” Mr Khan said.
But Andrew Smith, principal traffic and highways engineer for Bradford Council, said there would still have to be a delay in any removal of the offending lines.
“Essential resurfacing works have been carried out on Dirkhill Road, and the yellow and white lines must be restored to comply with legal requirements.
“However, Bradford West Area Committee has allocated funding to put a scheme forward to allow additional on-street parking on this stretch, by removing some of the yellow lines.
“This will take several months due to the length of the consultation process that must take place,” Mr Smith said.
Comments(16)
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
9:26am Tue 18 Sep 12
angry bradfordian
says...
9:59am Tue 18 Sep 12
I don't like paying tax, but it's the law so I have to because it's the law.
When these lines were originally installed I'd be very surprised if it didn't go through the correct legal process. That was the time to make a complaint.
I assume there was a valid reason for the lines when they were originally installed; even Bradford Council don't spend money without some justification.
ertnec
says...
10:17am Tue 18 Sep 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
10:50am Tue 18 Sep 12
Please, stop putting the waste of paint down on Durkhill Road and come and do our street. There have been four accidents, one serious since the turn of this year, blocked access to an old folks complex and pavement parking/access restrictions forcing children and wheelchair users onto the road.
Why can't the council and highways department prioritise correctly. A 6 year battle for unnecessary restrictions as opposed to a years wait for extremely necessary restrictions to be enforced.
Finger out of each others a holes please.
Albion.
says...
10:54am Tue 18 Sep 12
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Joedavid
says...
11:38am Tue 18 Sep 12
markjoe
says...
11:40am Tue 18 Sep 12
Also why aren't the residents contacting their councillors to get this matter resolved.
The council seem to be overloaded with work that they have left and have not been bothered to carry out whilst playing tit for tat games blaming the current government for the cuts.
MyleftPenguin
says...
12:32pm Tue 18 Sep 12
EthelBurger
says...
12:52pm Tue 18 Sep 12
MyleftPenguin wrote:I thought that as well, when I looked at the photo. I remember some chap on the TV a few years ago went round his home town pointing out unenforceable double yellow lines and getting parking fines overturned having done his legal research. If those commissioning the lines can't be bothered to check they've been done correctly they shouldn't be in that job. Seems like yet another ill-conceived dreadful waste of money by those in city hall.
The yellow lines in the photo above aren't truncated correctly with a yellow line and so don't conform to the relevant standards. The restrictions are unenforceable until the markings are corrected.
Saltaire Bantam
says...
2:01pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
2:22pm Tue 18 Sep 12
wobbley-bob
says...
5:46pm Tue 18 Sep 12
MyleftPenguin wrote:That would be because they ain't finished yet 'cos of the parked cars.....Have they got insurance?
The yellow lines in the photo above aren't truncated correctly with a yellow line and so don't conform to the relevant standards. The restrictions are unenforceable until the markings are corrected.
Tow truck, move the cars, join the lines up and start dishing out tickets.
If the lining crew ain't got a wrecker, give me a shout, I have. :).
wobbley-bob
says...
5:48pm Tue 18 Sep 12
EthelBurger wrote:Did you read the story before commenting?
MyleftPenguin wrote:I thought that as well, when I looked at the photo. I remember some chap on the TV a few years ago went round his home town pointing out unenforceable double yellow lines and getting parking fines overturned having done his legal research. If those commissioning the lines can't be bothered to check they've been done correctly they shouldn't be in that job. Seems like yet another ill-conceived dreadful waste of money by those in city hall.
The yellow lines in the photo above aren't truncated correctly with a yellow line and so don't conform to the relevant standards. The restrictions are unenforceable until the markings are corrected.
futurethinking
says...
11:48pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:Rubbish. I use this stretch of road every day on my route home from work. It is pretty obvious what the lines are for.
This stretch of road doesn't need double yellows. End of. Whoever decided it did was thinking of raising funds rather than saving lives or making driving easier. There is nowt there apart from the resident houses, the old Uni sports centre and the old Uni Halls of Res. This is the stretch of road above the roundabout by the Westleigh up to the T junction.
For a start its an A road, a main road in and out of town.
There is a traffic island as you come off the roundabout onto Dirkhill Road. Often, when stupid drivers are stopped on the yellow lines, its difficult to see pedestrians waiting to cross the road, or they have already started to cross before you see them.
Funnily enough, when noone is parked on the yellow lines, I can see the pedestrians, and they can see me approaching in my car. Is that a coincidence?
Seems to me like the residents think its their god given right to park outside their house. Dirkhill road is a massive wide road with nothing either side of it half way up. Just park 20 yards up the road and walk you lazy people.
futurethinking
says...
11:52pm Tue 18 Sep 12
Johsay says...
9:06am Tue 18 Sep 12