Call for limit on parking in village lay-bys

Traders and parish councillors in Backwell are calling for a two-hour parking limit for lay-bys in the centre of the village to stop motorists leaving their cars in them all day.

Backwell Parish Council has written to North Somerset Council highways department asking it to consider introducing a two-hour limit at the lay-bys on either side of Rodney Road in the village.

The lay-bys are used by customers popping into the shops and bank, but often they cannot park because the lay-bys are filled by people leaving their vehicles there all day.

On several occasions, coaches have been parked in the bays, meaning motorists have to leave their cars parked along the street while they go to the shops.

This has caused problems for the local bus service from Backwell to Nailsea, which often struggles to get through Rodney Road.

The problem has increased since the introduction of a two-hour limit at the North Somerset Council-owned car park at Rodney Road.

The limit was introduced in April after Backwell Parish Council complained to North Somerset Council that people were using it as an all-day car park.

The chairman of Backwell Parish Council Colin Pope said: "The fact that the lay-bys are occupied all day is restricting local people from using them to visit the shops and other facilities along Rodney Road.

"If you go down there at 9am any day it is extremely difficult to park.

"People are forced to park along Rodney Road, which makes the area very dangerous for pedestrians and motorists.

"We had the same issue with the car park where people were leaving their cars there all day and this is why we requested the two-hour limit was introduced.

"The problem has now moved onto the lay-bys with people parking there all day.

"Rodney Road is a focal point of the village and used by lots of people to do their errands, such as visit the bank and the shops.

"There is a concern that if they can't access the local shops easily, they may go elsewhere.

"We have asked North Somerset to look at the possibility of introducing the two-hour limit in the lay-bys to try and ease the problem."

Shopkeepers have given the plan to introduce restrictions in the lay-bys a mixed reaction.

Manager of the Spar shop Jackie Watts, 58, said: "In one sense it will be a good idea for the people who just want to nip to the shops for a few minutes.

"However, I do think it will cause problems for the people who need to stay in Backwell longer than two hours, perhaps for a hair or dentist appointment.

"There are also people who work in Rodney Road and this could mean they will have to park on residential streets.

North Somerset Council spokesman Richard Turner said: "We will be considering the request made by Backwell Parish Council."