RAMSEY TRAFFIC-FLOW PARKING CONCERNS
Isle of Man Today
NOT moving parking spaces after reversing the traffic flow in Ramsey's main street is 'absolutely ludicrous' and potentially dangerous.
That is the view of angry Ramsey Commissioner Edwina Carlile, who fears drivers and pedestrians could be put in danger.
On Sunday the Department of Transport will reverse the one-way system in Parliament Street, but it will leave the parking bays on the same side of the road.
Mrs Carlile believes the parking bays should be been moved to the other side of the road so passengers are not having to step out into the moving traffic to get out of vehicles.
She is also concerned drivers' visibility will be reduced by parking on the right of the moving traffic.'I looked it up in the Highway Code to see if it was illegal,' she said.
'It isn't, but the Highway Code strongly recommends passengers alight on the kerbside – now they cannot do that.
'There may not be a lot of children getting out of cars in Parliament Street, but it only takes a couple and there could be a problem, such as an accident. Also, a driver will not be able to see as well if they are emerging from a parking space on the right of the traffic.'It is absolutely ludicrous.'
The issue had already been raised by the commissioners, but 11 days before the flow was reversed Mrs Carlile asked the board to talk to the DoT again. Clerk Peter Whiteway confirmed he had again raised concerns about the position of parking spaces with the DoT.
A reply from the department said research showed the majority of vehicles which use Parliament Street do not carry passengers and, therefore, there was no increased risk by no relocating the spaces. It added safety might actually be improved by allowing drivers to alight on the kerbside.
It was also pointed out moving the parking was not a simple case of painting new spaces, but could involve lengthy disruption as signs and poles are moved and extensive engineering works – such as redesigning the pedestrian area at the Parliament Square end of the street – are undertaken.Mr Whiteway said the department feels the disruption would outweigh the benefits of doing it immediately. He added DoT has agreed to monitor the parking situation and will act if problems arise.
DoT staff worked overtime on Sunday to get everything in place for the change of the Parliament Street traffic flow.
Signs were reversed to inform drivers of the changes and the police were on hand to help with any confusion.
Department officials said everything possible is being done to let the public know about the change, but some glitches are expected as people get used to the new system.
Planning and schemes manager Jim Davidson said: 'As with anything new, there are bound to be teething troubles in the first couple of days.'
25 March 2006
NOT moving parking spaces after reversing the traffic flow in Ramsey's main street is 'absolutely ludicrous' and potentially dangerous.
That is the view of angry Ramsey Commissioner Edwina Carlile, who fears drivers and pedestrians could be put in danger.
On Sunday the Department of Transport will reverse the one-way system in Parliament Street, but it will leave the parking bays on the same side of the road.
Mrs Carlile believes the parking bays should be been moved to the other side of the road so passengers are not having to step out into the moving traffic to get out of vehicles.
She is also concerned drivers' visibility will be reduced by parking on the right of the moving traffic.'I looked it up in the Highway Code to see if it was illegal,' she said.
'It isn't, but the Highway Code strongly recommends passengers alight on the kerbside – now they cannot do that.
'There may not be a lot of children getting out of cars in Parliament Street, but it only takes a couple and there could be a problem, such as an accident. Also, a driver will not be able to see as well if they are emerging from a parking space on the right of the traffic.'It is absolutely ludicrous.'
The issue had already been raised by the commissioners, but 11 days before the flow was reversed Mrs Carlile asked the board to talk to the DoT again. Clerk Peter Whiteway confirmed he had again raised concerns about the position of parking spaces with the DoT.
A reply from the department said research showed the majority of vehicles which use Parliament Street do not carry passengers and, therefore, there was no increased risk by no relocating the spaces. It added safety might actually be improved by allowing drivers to alight on the kerbside.
It was also pointed out moving the parking was not a simple case of painting new spaces, but could involve lengthy disruption as signs and poles are moved and extensive engineering works – such as redesigning the pedestrian area at the Parliament Square end of the street – are undertaken.Mr Whiteway said the department feels the disruption would outweigh the benefits of doing it immediately. He added DoT has agreed to monitor the parking situation and will act if problems arise.
DoT staff worked overtime on Sunday to get everything in place for the change of the Parliament Street traffic flow.
Signs were reversed to inform drivers of the changes and the police were on hand to help with any confusion.
Department officials said everything possible is being done to let the public know about the change, but some glitches are expected as people get used to the new system.
Planning and schemes manager Jim Davidson said: 'As with anything new, there are bound to be teething troubles in the first couple of days.'
25 March 2006
posted by Neil Herron at 1:27 PM
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