I FEEL I have to reply to the item in 'Police Desk' (September 19)  regarding the issue of vehicles parked on public roads, outside residential properties and the potential irritation this can cause to residents. 

I do fully understand that a public road is exactly that and one should not shout and/or swear at anyone parking a vehicle there.  However, I do have sympathy with the Greenlands resident referred to and the various residents at Tiddybrook, on this issue. 

Do these people who happily and randomly leave their vehicles in this manner, give any thought to the possible inconvenience caused to the residents in that property when they do so? I think not. Do they consider that there may be a delivery of heavy goods due, such as furniture, or building materials arriving on a crane lorry? Maybe an ambulance is expected etc. Also, why can't they park outside the property they are visiting? If they are not visiting nearby, why are they parking there anyway? What if visitors are expected at a property where strangers have randomly parked, why should these visitors have to park outside another property, thereby exacerbating the problem, and walk back to where they are expected? What is the resident to do here, politely advising the person parking is very likely to be met with indifference or abuse.

Leisure facilities, walk/cycle paths are often the cause of this problem; council planners must take a share of responsibility here and parking facilities should be provided for access to these areas in order to minimise the disruption. 

I dare not start on the issue of Goose Fair, with parking everywhere around town all day and well into the night. Cross your fingers and trust that an emergency vehicle doesn't have to try and get through applies then! 

It's about time a little more thought was given to residents on this issue and maybe it would be an idea to limit the length of time a vehicle could legally be parked outside a property, if not visiting that property, say — 15 to 20 minutes.

Mrs V Cole

via email