Gargrave parking ban appeal upheld (From Craven Herald)

Gargrave parking ban appeal upheld

9:00am Friday 31st August 2012 in Skipton & District

An appeal to throw out plans for a parking ban in Gargrave High Street was upheld by councillors after a passionate plea from a resident who said it would wreck nearby businesses.

The battle over the proposal to restrict parking on a 20-metre strip of road in front of Marie Chapman’s Poppyfields flower shop had divided the community, members of Craven Area Committee were told last week.

The plan was backed by Gargrave Parish council and 35 petitioners but opposed by North Yorkshire Police and 86 residents who had signed an opposition petition.

The meeting was told that the parish council had looked at the issue and was in favour but then left it with the county council to consider.

Paula Derry, who lives in High Street, told the meeting at Bolton Abbey that Marie Chapman eagerly protected the strip of road in front of her shop “accosting” people who left their vehicles there for a period and putting up notices saying nobody should park.

Mrs Derry criticised the parish council for failing to consult villagers before agreeing to the request which had been presented in the form of a letter and not on the official agenda.

“In desperation I organised a petition and had names very quickly.

“I feared the proposal would destroy businesses for something that was totally unnecessary,” she said.

She was backed by Craven district councillor Alan Sutcliffe, who said the proposal had split the village and had not been put forward for the benefit of the whole village but for one particular business only.

“But more significantly, this is a proposal which is not supported by the police and the 30-minute restriction between 8am and 5pm Monday to Saturday could not be policed effectively,” he said.

A police spokesman said the enforcement needed to ensure vehicle turnover would not be seen as a priority.

It would lead to abuse and subsequent complaints due to lack of enforcement, he said.

After the meeting, Mrs Derry said she was pleased with the outcome because “common sense” had prevailed.