'Mad' double yellow lines introduced on Witchford estate

Residents said they were not sure if they could legally park between the yellow lines

By John Devine

BBC News, Cambridgeshire

Villagers have complained about "mad" double yellow lines that have been introduced around their estate.

The lines were put on a number of roads in Witchford, Cambridgeshire, "to address parking issues in the area", the county council said.

Residents said they were not told about the works - leaving gaps where cars were parked - and one can no longer park outside her home of 24 years.

The parish council, which requested the lines, declined to comment.

The lines were put on roads including part of Field End, Victoria Green and Quinton Road last week, residents told the BBC.

Sharon Mann, 51, lives on Victoria Green and said the yellow lines continued past her property, meaning she could not legally park outside her home any more.

"We have lived here for 24 years and now have double yellow lines surrounding the whole boundary of our house," she said.

Image source, John Devine/BBC

Sharon Mann said she now had parking restrictions surrounding her whole property

"My husband has to park his car up the road, out of our vision, and on the first night it was vandalised when someone scratched the boot.

"This is a sleepy village - you don't have double yellow lines in a little estate like this.

"When we bought the house we had ample off-road parking, now it's gone."

'Ridiculous'

Several members of the family live at the address and so they have a number of cars.

"I am registered disabled and have regular grocery deliveries, it is awkward as they have to park up the road - it's mad."

Another resident, Lesley Tremlett, 75, said: "The lines suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Image source, Sharon Mann

Cars have been parking in the gaps left between the double yellows

"It is ridiculous that we didn't know. I have lived here 14 years - I think people might start parking outside my house, because the lines are not around my property."

However, resident David Lakey, 56, said the lines were "needed", because "this area has been developed so much, without the thought for parking provision".

"Since the new development of Quinton Road has gone up, people have been parking near junctions along Field End, restricting vision," he said.

"I can't understand why we were not given any notification about the work being done. Normally you see notices up on lampposts and cones placed along the road to stop cars parking, but that didn't happen."

Image source, John Devine/BBC

A one metre-long (3ft) double yellow line was painted - but only as far as where a car had previously been parked

Cambridgeshire County Council said the "new restrictions were requested by Witchford Parish Council to help address parking issues in the area".

It said the parish council consulted residents last summer, with the county council holding a further consultation last September and October.

"As part of this process, we published the proposals and contacted residents by letter," the authority said.

"Putting in new yellow lines often requires us to make repeat visits due to parked cars. We will return to complete these works as soon as possible," it added.

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