Lessons learnt over Tilehurst footpath and verge parking ban

The council has learnt a lesson in Tilehurst with the introduction of an experimental footway and verge parking ban, which was made permanent on Tuesday.

Although the ban was widely approved in Tilehurst, Reading Borough Council encountered problems in Mayfair, where residents have room to park off-road between their front gardens and the road on tarmac drives without damaging the wide grass verges.

They challenged the ban, saying it made no sense to displace their cars on to the busy road.

So the traffic management committee made an exception of Mayfair on Tuesday night while confirming the ban on verge and footway parking throughout the rest of the experimental area.

The committee will look into alternative restrictions to protect verges in Mayfair.

Park Lane in Tilehurst also presented problems because despite the 18-month ban on verge parking, the grass has not returned.

In a report to the committee, network manager Simon Beasley wrote: Prior to the ban, the verges had been so badly damaged that even today the verges remain in a terrible state.

Tilehurst councillor Sandra Vickers described the project as a success and called for the reseeding of the grass verges in Park Lane.

'Mad' council transport bosses vote to continue Tilehurst parking ban

She also raised concerns about the continuing pavement parking near shops, banks and cash machines and cited Recreation Road as especially bad.

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Lessons learnt over Tilehurst footpath and verge parking ban