Old problems in New Road
Adam Hewitt • Published 12 Jun 2010 11:00
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THOUSANDS of pounds are being spent banning non-residents from using a road - which police say is a waste of time because they will not take action.
People living in New Road, East Reading, have been desperate for Reading Borough Council to stop rat-runners and commuters parking in their road but every option transport staff came up with was rejected.
Residents held out for their desired option, 'no entry except for access' signs, and despite earlier opposition the council has now given in and will use money paid by developers towards traffic schemes to fund a year-long trial. It will cost £2,200 to install the signs and up to £8,000 if they need to be lit.
Police said the restriction was unenforceable, because it would mean officers following cars coming into the road to check whether they stopped or carried on through. Their submission said: "Such a use of police resources is not a high priority and therefore enforcement is extremely unlikely. The introduction of such an order would raise residents' expectations, which are unlikely to be met."
Seven residents wrote in to support the restriction while acknowledging police would not spend time enforcing it.
Labour's Cllr Tony Page said: "This will undoubtedly lead to pressure for enforcement, as night follows day.
"It will cause aggro, the neighbourhood police team will come under pressure from residents saying 'why are you putting these signs up if you're not going to enforce them?' and I think if we're going to be responsible, we should be asking residents whether they really think this is a good use of scarce funds."
But Lib Dem ward councillor Glenn Goodall stood up for the residents.
He said: "They are desperate for something to happen.
"There's been lots of meetings and this was what they wanted and they are aware it's unenforceable. They just want something to deter university and Royal Berkshire Hospital workers using it as commuter parking. They will probably enforce it themselves."
The scheme will go ahead after the panel voted four-two in favour along party lines, with Labour councillors Page and Mohammed Ayub against.
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