Cars parked illegally in West Auckland to be ticketed

ILLEGALLY parked vehicles are to be ticketed in West Auckland in an attempt to tackle traffic congestion on a busy stretch of road.

West Auckland Parish Council has been looking at ways of resolving parking issues on Front Street. Cars being parked on double yellow lines are resulting in congestion at the junction near McColl’s newsagent.

Parish councillors met on site with Durham County Council’s highways officer Keith Jameson to discuss possible solutions. The idea of introducing a one-way road system is something which the parish council has been looking into for the past few years.

Cllr Billy Robinson said: “It was on the agenda with regards to a one-way system. We know that the one-way system has never happened in all the years we have tried to get it done.

“We had a walk down to the front and stood there for half an hour. There was no one parked there then as we stood there talking they all pulled up. Keith took some photos.”

The double yellow lines on the junction near to McColl’s newsagent have faded and so they will be repainted to ensure they can be seen by motorists.

Cllr Robinson said: “We are going to get the lines painted again and get an enforcement officer out. Tickets will be put on any cars parked on both sides of that road. Keith said we will get it done and then enforce it.”

He added: “I think it is a good idea if the lines are painted, tickets are put on cars and we could then put a notice in the shop to say how many people have been ticketed each month.

“When people walk in the shop they will realise that they are parked on double yellow lines. If there is a sign up, people will get to know more and there is a chance they won’t park there.

“If you get rid of them on those two areas the flow up that road will be better altogether.”

If plans for a one-way system were to go ahead, cars would enter Front Street at the junction opposite The Eden Arms pub and exit the street at the junction in front of Tenthirteen Tattoo studio which is where the problem parking is.

Parish chairman Cllr Colin Mairs added: “They are coming to put new lines on so they stand out more. I did ask about red lines that can be put in different places. They said the red lines are a definite no.”