A PARKING problem that could be a matter of “life and death” is dividing residents in neighbouring Dunstable streets.
Last week the Gazette revealed how one couple petitioned Central Beds Council to remove a single yellow line in Capron Road after their neighbours were fined a total of 177 times for parking as a result of new CCTV number plate recognition vehicles.
Now residents have raised other problems caused by a lack of legal parking opportunities in the area.
Stuart Beddall, of Olma Road, said: “There’s not much of a neighbourly feel in Capron Road. Some of them have driveways but don’t use them.
“They park on our road – that’s just shifting the problem, not solving it.
“If they came to some agreement there’d be more space. Permits could be the answer.”
Capron Road resident Peter Sear’s wife is disabled and relies on lifts to the hospital and visits from medical staff.
He said: “My brother was giving my wife a lift home from the hospital, was outside our house for six minutes and got a £35 fine. He has a blue badge in his car.”
“My wife’s carers have also been booked twice, even the paramedics once.
“I don’t know what the solution is, but a permit could be given to those that need it. It could mean the difference between life and death.”
As well as restricting life-saving services, residents also say the yellow line frees up the road to be used by motorists to avoid traffic at the nearby High Street North junction.
Mr Beddall added: “Using the streets as a cut-through is dangerous when cars come screeching through and it could be just a matter of time before a child is knocked over.
Councillor Brian Spurr of Central Beds Council said: “The safety of road users and pedestrians is our key priority here. Blue badge holders who receive a ticket when parking responsibly will have that ticket withdrawn.
“We are already planning to introduce a 20mph speed limit in this area.”