Some residents may have noticed that the Council have recently installed double yellow lines in the cul-de-sac, Dalton Close and returning at the junction, into Lower Barn Road near Riddlesdown Station.

This action, was following a complaint from a resident in Dalton Close that lorries, the dustcart, emergency vehicles etc could not enter or deliver to houses in Dalton Close because of parking, mainly by commuters.

Although the RRA could not argue that Dalton Close is narrow, we did raise the question as to why the Planning Department/Highways Dept had allowed such a narrow access road to be built adjoining the Station, where commuter parking would be an issue, in the mid 1990’s. However, this is now water under the bridge.

The RRA did also raise objections with the Council about the double yellow lines returning into Lower Barn Road, as to our knowledge, there has never be a serious accident at this junction. The section of road between the railway bridge and the crossroads of Coombe Wood Hill/Riddlesdown Ave and Brancaster Lane is not as wide as the remainder of Lower Barn Rd. We did also tell them, that parking would therefore occur on the north side of Lower Barn Rd and pinch parking could be a problem, whereby lorries, ambulances, fire engines, dustcarts etc, would not be able to pass and it could have far more serious consequences for many residents in the Riddlesdown area, should any emergency vehicle be delayed attending an incident. Unfortunately the Council choose to ignore our concerns and installed these double yellow lines regardless. At the time of writing, the double yellow lining is not complete. However since this happened, a number of vehicles are now being parked in Lower Barn Road on the north side, opposite the Dalton Close junction and some are creating obstructions on the road and stopping lorries and emergency vehicles from passing through the gaps.

The RRA and Ward Councillors have been in contact with the Council about this and the Council have admitted there is now a new problem and are looking at a longer term solution (we did say, told you so !!).  

As an interim, the Council’s traffic wardens have now started issuing warning notices to any vehicle parked on both sides of this section of road in Lower Barn Rd, that in their opinion are causing an obstruction, advising the drivers, that the Police will take action. Only the Police can remove vehicles causing an obstruction and not the Council. The Police will therefore remove ALL vehicles causing the obstruction regardless of who came second and caused the obstruction. This could mean that you have parked on one side of the road first and the other side was clear but someone else has come along later and parked opposite or diagonally opposite you. It could also mean that if your vehicle is removed, it will cost about £250, plus any daily storage charges, to get you vehicle back.

As Dalton Close now have these yellow lines, it may mean that commuters who previously parked here, could now park in other areas of Riddlesdown, on narrow roads, like Coombe Wood Hill, Riddlesdown Ave and slightly further a field in Buttermere Gardens, Dalegarth Gardens etc, where the Police could take similar action.

The moral of the story is, beware if you park in a narrow road in Riddlesdown, that you or someone else doesn’t cause an obstruction. It may cost you a lot of money to get your vehicle back !!