RESIDENTS and employees in Church Hill are uniting in a bid to stop motorists parking in a layby outside shopping centre.
The bay, outside the centre’s McColl’s store, has not only double yellow lines but white hashing painted across it.
Following a reduction in parking spaces from 146 to just 34 when the centre was first built, the zone is now being used by parents dropping off children at nearby Abbeywood First School and Church Hill Middle School.
But it isn’t just parents, say campaigners, Church Hill residents or visitors to the centre who may be using the shops or have an appointment at the doctors or dentists often parking in the restricted area too.
Ian Johnson of Church Hill Big Local Partnership said: “It is the little ones we worry about, when they’re crossing the road it makes it difficult to see and when the cars are parked there it’s very awkward for vehicles exiting the car park to do so safely.”
The bay is only to be used when lorries are reversing into the service yard behind the shops to unload.
Now the majority of the centre’s shops are displaying a poster pleading with motorists not to use it.
Chair of Church Hill PACT, Maria Tomes, added: “We would like to ask all drivers to kindly refrain from parking on the double yellow lines in the interest of the safety of the wider Church Hill Community.
“Whilst we understand parking spaces are limited, we would urge you to have patience and persevere with the official car park.”
