A TILEHURST resident is calling for the council to act over illegal parking in his street.
Jack Ewins lives in Shilling Close, which he says is used by people parking for Prospect Park Hospital, or as a drop off and pick up spot for King’s Academy Prospect school in Cockney Hill.
And he said drivers are often parked on double yellow lines or on the pavement and grass verges.
“Residents of Shilling Close and Chimney Court have, for some time, had to put up with obstructive and illegal parking in the area,” he explained.
“Most of the illegal and obstructive parking is perpetrated by staff and visitors to Prospect Hospital, some people waiting to pick up children from the School in Honey End Lane and also delivery drivers, who park on double yellow lines.”
He has also complained about littering in the area: “The Honey End Lane up to Shilling Close is not swept and has historic cigarette ends deposited on the pavement and gutters, plus other items of litter.
“The only success me and neighbours have had is the fitting of two new bins, which took more than a year to be installed.
“Also, the road has a large number of leaves which also can hide yellow lines, which have almost disappeared from wear and tear.
“Nothing has been done to regularly tidy the area, patrol the area or the use of the Borough CCTV enforcement vehicle.”
Mr Ewins thanked Cllr Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) for looking into the issues, but wanted more to be done.
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: “We are aware of parking concerns in Honey End Lane and Shilling Close and continue to monitor the situation. Our enforcement team have visited the location on several occasions, but found no infringements on those days, which means no penalty charge notices were issued.
“We will continue to regularly visit the location.
“It should be noted the Council is only able to enforce parking on the highway where there is a Traffic Regulation Order in place, for example double yellow lines. We are unable to enforce parking on the pavement where there are no restrictions on parking in place, or on the grass in this location, as this does not form part of the highway.
“These infringements can only be enforced by the police, not the council.
“Blue Badge holders are permitted to park on yellow lines for up to three hours.”
They added: “There has additionally been a request for yellow lines in Shilling Close. This request is being investigated as part of a borough-wide Waiting Restriction Review Programme that was first reported to Traffic Management Sub-Committee earlier this month.
“The recommendations arising from the investigation will be reported further, with any agreed proposals requiring public consultation before they could potentially be implemented.”
