Goldington Lib Dem Councillor Shows Mayor the Extent of Goldington Parking Chaos

11.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 9th May 2009

Liberal Democrat Goldington Ward Councillor Phil Merryman, pictured here by the damaged grass area at the 'banana flats' on Queens Drive, says that residents there and on The Boundary have had to contend with parking chaos for far too long

The campaign for action to tackle parking chaos on two residential streets in Goldington gathered momentum this week after the Mayor was shown the full extent of the problems faced by residents of the Boundary and the 'banana flats' on Queens Drive by Liberal Democrat Ward Councillor Phil Merryman.

Following a long campaign by Cllr Merryman and the submission of separate residents' petitions calling for action at the sites by Liberal Democrat Ward Councillors, Cllr Merryman showed the Mayor, along with Council officers, each location in person at a meeting on Tuesday.

After the visit to see the severe access problems, parking shortage and grass verge damage at both sites, council officers will now work on preliminary plans for improvement works, and Cllr Merryman has vowed to keep up the pressure for action to be taken. Commenting after the meeting, he said: "After a long campaign for action to relieve the parking misery and damage to the local environment caused by the parking chaos at both the Boundary and the Queens Drive flats, I am pleased to have been able to show the Mayor first hand just what local residents have to put up with. Now that the Mayor and Council officers are fully aware of the extent of the problems faced by residents at both sites, I will be putting even more pressure on the council to act.'

"Grass verges on the Boundary have been turned into muddy swamps, while the number of cars mounting the curb to park causes a real hazard. The grass to the front of the banana flats on Queens Drive also becomes extremely churned up and unsightly, while the lack of space combined with the number of cars causes severe access problems for residents.'

"I have discussed in detail with council officers and the Mayor my ideas for improving the situation at each site with increased, safer parking provision. I look forward to seeing the plans which council officers are now set to draw up, along with projected costs, which could be met in part by some of the extra money that the Liberal Democrats have put in the budget for grass verge protection. Inaction must not be an option. Residents of the Boundary and the Queens Drive flats have had to contend with car parking chaos for far too long. The council must take action and begin to allow residents to take the 'Pride in Bedford' that they deserve."