Brighton and Hove's crackdown on verge parking

Brighton and Hove City Council’s Environment, Sustainability and Transport Committee is expected to approve plans to begin enforcement action in parts of Mile Oak and Surrenden Road area.

The council wants the scheme to be up and running by mid-November.

The enforcement areas include Chalky Road, Braybon Avenue, Drove Crescent, Graham Avenue, Mile Oak Road, Surrenden Crescent, Surrenden Road, Valley Road, Wickhurst Rise and Wickhurst Road.

The junctions at Old Farm Road and Braybon Avenue, WoodlandWay/Greenfield Crescent and Braybon Avenue will be monitored for six weeks following the introduction of enforcement, Varndean Road was removed from the proposals after a public consultation over the summer.

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Views in Mile Oak were split with only eight responses to the notices – four in favour and four against. Those against suggested that parking on verges helped keep the roads clear for buses, but representatives from the bus company supported the proposals, saying that parking on verges made it more difficult for passengers to access bus stops.

Councillor Pete West, committee chair, said: “Parking on verges and footways has become an increasing problem in some residential areas of the city and every year the council receives dozens of complaints.

“There is no doubt that, in some areas, the safety of both pedestrians and other road users is being compromised.

“ Not only does parking on footways and verges make life difficult for pedestrians, especially disabled and elderly people, those who are visually impaired and people with pushchairs or double buggies, it can also cause irrevocable damage to the pavements, grass, trees plants and wildlife.”

Cab driver Raj Vasanthen said the problem was caused by residents rather than cabbies.

He said: “Cab drivers only park for a matter of minutes but residents leave their cars on the verge overnight.

“It’s human nature, everyone wants to park outside their own home. No one likes it, but we’ve all done it.”