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Wokingham Borough Council will have yellow lines painted in Danywern Drive in Winnersh to stop commuters using Winnersh Train Station parking there
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Double yellows in Winnersh to stop commuter parking

By Jon Nurse
January 28, 2013

Double yellow lines will be laid to stop drivers from blocking driveways when they park in residential roads to use Winnersh train station.

After years of frustration neighbours may finally get some respite from inconsiderate drivers after council roads bosses approved a parking scheme for Danywern Drive in Winnersh.

The busy street is used by many to park for Winnersh station but residents are also plagued by speeding drivers using the road as a rat run.

Staggered double yellow lines will be put down along the street and its junctions with Reynard Close, Wedderburn Close, Sherwood Road and Watmore Lane.

Councillor Keith Baker, executive member for highways and planning, who approved the scheme said: “We had to find a balance. On the one extreme, if you take away all parked cars you exacerbate the speeding. At the same time you have the issue of inconsiderate parking.

“We have had three or four attempts at different schemes down there and having engaged with local people we have reached a solution.

“I think it will help. I would be brave to say anything put in totally solves the issue, but it will significantly reduce the problem.”

The road also has a lot of through traffic heading to The Forest School, which has its entrance at the road’s western end.

Wokingham Borough Council received 10 letters from residents about the scheme, with two filed as formal objections and others giving feedback and stating their preferences.

Winnersh Councillor Prue Bray, said: “This scheme is the product of a good deal of work by residents, the Neighbourhood Action Group and officers which I have supported.

“The solution will not please everyone but I do believe it has the backing of a considerable majority of the people living in Danywern Drive and therefore I’m happy for the Traffic Regulation Order to be agreed and implemented.”

Responding to the scheme, one resident from Danywern Drive commented: “I continue to be concerned that despite these latest proposals Danywern Drive will continue to be a race track and whilst a chicane parking arrangement may have some effect this will not make any significant impact on speeding vehicles.”

Another resident added: “Clearly, this will resolve the problems frustrating many Danywern Drive residents however, to my mind, this approach is disproportionate as it will severely restrict parking within the area at all times.”

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Coouncillor Baker, as always feeding us another porky. Business rates are collected by the LA and sent to central government WHO DISTRIBUTE THEM BACK TO LAs. Where are the figures for the waiting times at Three Tuns traffic lights. Took a couple of pictures on a Saturday when the queue was back to Bulmershe. Why didn't you do things properly and widen the road from Woodley locally before the lights, to match all the other roads leading to the lights?? Woodley residents are at a disadvantage at this junction.

Silver Royal, Woodley
05/02/2013 at 17:59

Silver Royal - I would love to have the rating income you say we have. We do not receive any rates at the moment they all go to the government.

As far as parking costs are concerned the all day charge is only £4 which is significantly lower than any comparable car park in our surrpounding authorities.

Cllr Keith Baker
04/02/2013 at 16:53

What about the lorries that cause so much congestion by parking and unloading in Peach Street at peak times when there is in fact a loading ban in place. I appreciate that these shops have no alternative loading/unloading facilities but they constantly flout the law and cause long tailbacks as the traffic has to squeeze into one lane - especially the Poundstretcher shop!! I have also seen cars park up on the double yellows in Broad Street and go off having first chatted with the PCSOs! Wokingham’s parking situation is a nightmare and a joke – they need Civil Enforcement of the parking regulations.

Daisychain
29/01/2013 at 23:29

Seems a few wires might be getting crossed here. People park in Nightingale Road for Earley station as a short walk over the bridge avoids a considerable detour to get from Woodley to Earley which includes Councillor Baker's very delaying lights at Three Tuns. Arundel Road parking is surely those who don't like paying parking charges at Woodley Shops, but still wish to spend their money locally. If the Council can subsidise those parking at the Park and Ride to take the bus into Reading, surely local shoppers and those who want to catch a train and avoid adding to the congestion getting into Reading deserve similar treatment. As I say a comprehensive Transport policy would at least establish an understood policy for expenditure of public money. In spite of the rating income to the Council from Woodley shops, they still want to make money from those who substantiate the shops being there, and don't live near enough to walk.

Silver Royal, Woodley
29/01/2013 at 17:34

Me-Here, based on your first comment about Arundel Road, that is a 1.5 mile walking/cycling route to Earley Station - which is going to be 30 or 10 minutes depending on which of those you chose.

I wouldn't describe that as too far myself, more a case of convenience factor of a car.

Spanky
29/01/2013 at 17:02

I must add to my previous comments also that if the parking charges at Earley Station were reduced, perhaps the residents around the Woodley side of the station would not get so angry. The car park is nearly always empty now as the cost has increased astronomically, it is ridiculous the charges that are implemented these days. I thought we were supposed to be encouraged to use public transport but we are being penalised by the cost of car parking. Some of us don't live near enough to walk to the station.

Me-Here, Woodley
29/01/2013 at 14:02

Wish they would do this along Arundel Road in Woodley. It is getting so busy if, I can get into my driveway it is dangerous backing out!!

Me-Here, Woodley
29/01/2013 at 13:52

Of course, they could make car parking at the station cost effective and reduce the problem at a stroke.

Arthur Mo
29/01/2013 at 11:35

Bingley, I suspect people are not parking to avoid congestion merely to avoid high parking costs

Spanky
29/01/2013 at 07:35

A comprehensive transport policy is too much for WBC then. Splash a bit of yellow paint around and ignore the fact people are parking to avoid congestion on the roads by using public transport. A cheap solution again Councillor Baker like Three Tuns Traffic lights. Haven't seen the before and after figures published yet!

Bingley, Woodley
28/01/2013 at 21:09

@HatsOfDoom

I await your howls of protest/complaint when you are the victim of crime and the Police don't respond instantly.

By the way (and this may have escaped your attention) we are in the midst of the biggest public spending cuts for decades just now and hence all public services (including the Police) have had to absorb significant reductions in the numbers they employ.

RBC Traffic Management are Useless, Calcot
28/01/2013 at 13:20

Yes, no traffic wardens in Wokingham (outside car parks) so left to the police-who are apparently too busy to carry out enforcement (must be all those drive-bys and drug dens they have to deal with, here in one of the lowest crime regions in the UK)

So "Park where you like, chummy, because you will never get given a ticket" is the message that this is sending out.

I believe there were plans afoot for a roving traffic warden, but apparently this is very difficult to set up-it must be, as they've been looking at it for about 3 years IIRC. Heaven knows how every other town/city in the country manages it....

HatsOfDoom
28/01/2013 at 12:03

So you're getting double-yellows but.... does anyone enforce the parking laws in your area? I ask because outside my home, the residents' parking spaces are almost always taken-up by non-residents, and very little is ever done about it - Councillor Keith Baker told me that it is the responsibility of the police to enforce parking, not the council.

We have double-yellow-lines, 'residents only' signs, etc. - but would you believe, people still manage to park there undeterred. So I hope it is better enforced in this area than elsewhere, otherwise it's just a waste of paint.

Damiano_Tommassi, Wokingham
28/01/2013 at 11:29

A. XYZ, no doubt followed up with angry comments about it just being a tax on motorists

Spanky
28/01/2013 at 11:06

As the paint is out in Winnersh, will they put some double yellows down Baslow Road as well please? As the not so new houses use the road as an extension of the probably inadequate parking provided, it turns Baslow Road into a single lane road. Baslow Road is actually an incredibly busy link road and there are quite a few near misses, due to a combination of inconsiderate parking and council incompetence in not thinking the situation through and ensuring that the road be kept clear for traffic in both directions.