Malcolm Cowan next to a damaged Verge

Councillor calls for change in law over Welwyn Hatfield verge parking

By Ross Logan, Reporter Thursday, 11 February, 2010
17:03 PM

A DISPUTE has broken out over how best to deal with the problem of vehicles parking on footpaths and grass verges in Times Territory.

"This is a heaven sent opportunity to get control of the problem, but the borough council doesn’t want to know."

Councillor Malcolm Cowan

Hertfordshire County Council and Welwyn Hatfield Council are at odds as to whether or not to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to the borough – which would see motorists fined for parking on footpaths and verges.

Two conflicting reports, one from each council, were heard at a meeting of the Welwyn Hatfield Highways Panel.

The borough council is keen to continue using a local by-law to deal with the problem, which by its own admission is “extremely unlikely to end in a person receiving a fine” and “will on occasions be ignored and will not prevent vehicles parking on the verge”.

But Hertfordshire County Council believes a TRO would reduce damage of footways and verges caused by parked vehicles, thereby cutting maintenance costs and improving the environment of the borough.

A decision on the matter was deferred until April by highways panel chairman Mandy Perkins – the second time she has done so.

“We need to have the whole picture,” Cllr Perkins said.

“And we didn’t have that.”

In January 2008, Welwyn Hatfield Council turned down near-identical proposals for a TRO, citing cost implications and concerns over such an order simply transferring the problem to another area.

It seems, as far as borough councillors are concerned, that little has changed.

“People have to park somewhere,” Cllr Perkins said.

Liberal Democrat borough and county councillor Malcom Cowan is, however, in no doubt about what needs to happen.

“We have a by-law that is totally ineffective,” Cllr Cowan said.

“This is something new that makes parking on a verge illegal, but the borough council won’t touch it with a barge pole.

“The verges are a key part of the landscape, and they’re being destroyed by a minority.

“This is a heaven sent opportunity to get control of the problem, but the borough council doesn’t want to know.”

6 Views

If a less than perfect grass verge is the price that has to be paid for my car not to be repeatedly damaged by idiot drivers passing too close then so be it! You lot should get a life......ITS JUST A BIT OF GRASS!!!

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Clarkson for PM

Saturday, February 13, 2010
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If Welwyn & Hatfield Council cannot enforce their own by-law then they should embrace the controls that will allow them to support fixing this issue ie vote for the TRO. If cost is an issue then this should be weighed up against the continued cost of maintaining the verges that are being ploughed up. Also, the misery and stress that is caused by not enforcing this by-law. How about using some common sense?

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Clairol

Friday, February 12, 2010
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yes bring in the law the verges in my street are a see of mud i have complained to the council lots of times but nothing is done

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arwensmagic

Friday, February 12, 2010
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All in favour of protecting verges if the streetroad is wide enough to park on both sides. Unfortunately many in WGC are not, and it can be impossible to park in the street at all unless the verge on the other side is used. Blanket enforcement of no parking will only lead to more problems with people parking in other streets instead, using spaces usually taken by the residents of that street....and on it will go.  Like NeilB, suggest the money would be better spent sorting out the lunar landscape we our roads!

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petex

Friday, February 12, 2010
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While I agree this problem does need to be addressed they should spend some time and effort repairing the roads first.

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NeilB

Thursday, February 11, 2010
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I'm totally in favour of this as have had and still have probs where I live with neighbours parking their cars across their drives blocking pathways for pedestrians. All because they are too lazy to park their cars in the available car parks across the road.

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DiFletch

Thursday, February 11, 2010
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