A residents’ parking scheme for the “back streets” of Keswick cannot come soon enough, according to a local councillor, who says people are having to tolerate cars left outside their homes for up to seven days.
Pressure for a scheme is mounting following the experiences this summer and recent incidents including a car transporter loaded with five vehicles becoming stuck on Southey Street.
Cllr Tony Lywood said there were examples of a Landrover “dumped” for a full week and a pair of minibuses left for days on end by people staying as far away as Braithwaite, he said.
He also cited the recent problem of a bus service being blocked out of Braithwaite by cars parked up on Saturday, October 9, which saw a meeting take place between officials to consider a possible traffic regulation order and the danger if there was ever a serious house fire, such as that seen in High Hill, Keswick, on September 3.
Mayor Cllr Alan Dunn said the car transporter becoming stuck had proved what would happen to a fire engine in similar circumstances.
Cllr Lywood said: “It is timely that something is going to be brought in, it has been going on for too long. The truth is people will always park in the back streets if they can if it’s free and it’s close.”
Cllr Sally Lansbury believes that all of Keswick’s different parking options need to be better publicised to people as there were some good deals to be had.
Cumbria County Council has said that a consultation on a parking scheme for Keswick is being prepared and will be launched for public consultation in January 2022.
l Contact us if you have had parking problems in Keswick on [email protected]
