Vale Church to tackle problem of abandoned cars
VALE CHURCH car park could finally have parking restrictions in a bid to tackle the number of abandoned vehicles on the site.
Traffic & Highway Services has entered into a joint venture with the Vale Commons Council to improve the car park and at the same time introduce limits on how long vehicles can be left there.
A planning application has been submitted to install Tarmac planing and gravel on the site. The area would also be broken up into three types of parking – 14 three-hour spaces, 25 23-hour spaces and 15 resident permit spaces. There would also be two disabled spaces.
In the planning application, Roger Dadd, from the council, said they were keen to improve the area. ‘The surface of the car park has long been in need of attention, and the area has been subject to long-term misuse, such that there is sometimes little or no parking space available for users of the church or the two cemeteries on the Vale Commons,’ he said.
‘At its worst, some 16 abandoned vehicles were removed prior to a recent military funeral.’
The two bodies have reached a memorandum of understanding, with the council covering the cost of the work and planing, while the States will pay for the signage. The council will cover future maintenance costs.
Mr Dadd said the choice of road surface was chosen to level and stabilise the areas that need attention.
‘Budgetary constraints require that an overall plan for improving the car park will be phased over time, as the financial resources of the VCC permit,’ he said.
‘The first phase – to which this application relates – is expected to cost around £35,000.’
The council has previously made attempts to tackle the long-standing problem.
In 2013, it applied to make the car park terre a l’amende. but the application was rejected as the council is not the owner of the site, but rather a custodian.
Parish junior constable Bill Cohu welcomed the latest move. ‘It’s a great compromise,’ he said. ‘It will be good to have limits as it will cut down the number of abandoned vehicles. The council has done the best it can and douzaine is behind it.’
. The planning application can be viewed at Sir Charles Frossard House.
