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Stokie grandad won't be able to park outside own home in council speed bump plan

Now neighbours want residents' parking in a park

[Jason Preston, 52, says traffic calming measures proposed for Whieldon Road will slow traffic but lead to parking problems.]

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Jason Preston, 52, says traffic calming measures proposed for Whieldon Road will slow traffic but lead to parking problems which he says are already bad enough. (Image: Reach PLC.)

Residents on a Stoke-on-Trent 'rat-run' road are calling for extra parking. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is improving safety on Whieldon Road, in Fenton, with speed bumps, a crossing, and better road markings.

But parking spaces will be reduced on Whieldon Road. Now residents are calling on the council to turn part of Smithpool Park into a car park.

It comes as vehicles hit speeds of 60mph on the 30mph road.

Jason Preston, aged 52, said: "I can see it is going to be better for speed. But I live here and I am not going to be able to park outside my house. I get in from work at 6pm. Vehicles will not be able to park on the other side of the road so they will be trying to park over here. All the parking is going to be on this side.

"It definitely needs something doing with the speed. I have seen them drive at 60mph. It is 30mph all the way down. It is used as a bit of a rat-run. People cut out a corner of the A50 by the football stadium. I agree something needs doing with the speed.

"If they control the speed they do not necessarily need to take away the parking spaces. There is not going to be enough parking. You are going to be forced to park down a side street. I get in after 6pm and am struggling to park as it is. I would have to have my back garden as a drive.

"Cars are getting faster. It is getting more congested. The speed hump is planned to go outside my house. My car could potentially get hit."

[Jason Preston, 52, of Whieldon Road, believes parking issues could be resolved by turning a small section of Smithpool Park, Fenton, into a parking area for residents.]

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Jason Preston, 52, of Whieldon Road, believes Stoke-on-Trent City Council could resolve parking issues by turning a small section of Smithpool Park, Fenton, into a parking area for residents.

Jason, a dad-of-four and grandad, suggested one solution could be for the council to make a small section of Smithpool Park available for residents' parking.

He added: "Our houses back on to Smithpool Park. Most houses have more than one vehicle. The council could lose a little bit of the land to create parking spaces. The part of the park that backs on to our homes on Whieldon Road, the railings are falling over and the grass and weeds are not maintained very well."

Graham Pover, aged 71, added: "Every morning it is chaos down here. I have had my wing mirror knocked off twice. I welcome the efforts to improve road safety.

"It would make sense for the council to offer residents some land at the back of our houses. If the money was sensible I would be prepared to buy some land. Or the council could introduce a permit scheme. I do not want to be parking three streets away. The land at the back of our houses is dead land. The only people who walk within 15 metres of the railings are dog walkers."

Work is due to start on the scheme later this year.

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