PARKING at a parade of shops in east Reading continues to be a problem for residents, shoppers and businesses, despite being turned into a red route.
In 2019, the entire route of the Purple 17 buses saw double yellow lines painted red, meaning that apart from parking spots and loading bays, motorists cannot stop.
This has been coupled with the introduction of parking metres outside shops on Wokingham Road in east Reading, and a permit system for neighbouring roads.
As a result, some of the businesses have seen delivery vans parking in the streets and covering number plates with bread baskets and bin liners in a bid to avoid being detected by CCTV cameras mounted to patrolling cars, or from passing police officers, as they are committing a traffic offence.
But some business owners say that shoppers are parking in the loading bays, which are meant to be for deliveries lasting no longer than 20 minutes.
Usman Mehr, who shops in Wokingham Road, said that parking spaces are being unfairly blocked and has taken pictures of pallets being used by businesses to reserve the area for deliveries.
“The parking situation on Wokingham Road is already challenging due to its high demand, and finding a parking spot has become increasingly difficult,” Mr Mehr said. “On numerous occasions, I have had to circle the area multiple times in search of a space, which wastes both time and fuel.
“This issue affects not only residents but also visitors to the Alfred Primary School, post office, pharmacy, and other establishments in the vicinity.
“I believe that public roadside parking spaces should be made available on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure fairness and convenience for all users. However, the businesses occupying these spaces disregard this principle and hinder public access to parking, creating unnecessary frustrations and inconveniences.”
He wants Reading Borough Council to resolve the issue.
But Mohammad Ramzan, a manager at Rahim Stores which is a shop on the parade, said that the pallets were a necessary evil.
“We don’t do that, but some other shops do. Businesses get sick and tired of not being able to have deliveries, so people put stuff in the loading bays to preserve the space just to get the goods in,” he said.
“There are a lot of shops that have issues on delivery days if there’s no space for lorries and vans to bring in goods. The side roads are all permit based, so drivers could get tickets if they park there.
“When we say to people ‘this is a loading bay’ they get aggressive and funny about it.
“If everyone obeyed the rules and regulations it would be fine, but when people abuse the system that’s where you get issues, with parking and deliveries.
“You’ve got lorry or van drivers with pallet loads to drop off, but if anybody and everybody dumps their cars there they can’t unload.”
The parking restrictions apply between 8am and 8pm, and Mr Ramzan suggested drivers are parking in the bays outside of these times, which is making the issue worse.
A council spokesperson said: “The blocking of a parking bay with crates, even for a short period of time, is obviously unacceptable.
“Council highways officers already visit this stretch a number of days every week and have previously asked shop owners to remove the crates from pavements, although they have not been seen in a parking bay before now.
“Officers have been alerted and will continue to closely monitor the situation.
“Traffic Enforcement officers also regularly visit this site to ensure vehicles comply with the parking restrictions.”
And as for delivery vans that cover their numberplates, the spokesperson said: “It is against the law to obscure a number plate, and should residents encounter this behaviour they are advised to report it to the police who are able to issue on-the-spot fines of up to £1,000. “While the Council has no enforcement powers over such an offence, our civil enforcement officers will report such incidences should they become aware of them.”
Additional reporting: James Aldridge, Local democracy reporting service
