A man has blasted “witless” Watford Borough Council for not dealing with issues stopping him parking on his own road.

Webster Smith said locals in Riverside Road are blighted by non-residents nabbing the free spots and forcing them to park elsewhere.

He claims it has worsened in the last 18 months and despite the council conducting a survey over parking controls in February no action has been taken.

Mr Smith said: “Residents on the road, some who have babies or are disabled, come back after a long day at work and there is nowhere to park.

 

Watford Observer: Parking on the road has worsened in the last 18 months, according to Mr Smith. Picture: Webster Smith.Parking on the road has worsened in the last 18 months, according to Mr Smith. Picture: Webster Smith.

“You have to drive around for another 40 minutes to look for a space. It’s frustrating after a long day of work.

“It gets to a point where you look for another spot, sometimes three roads away.

“Sometimes people have put bins out to stop non-residents parking on this road.”  

Referring to not hearing back after the council's survey, he added: “This is witless, and I am absolutely disheartened by the handling of the council.

“The council should make it into a permit holder only road.”

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Mr Smith has lived on the road for nearly 20 years and said the situation worsened when Oxhey Activity Park opened in September 2020.

The road, which is also used as a bus route, also becomes even busier when Watford FC are playing at home, he said.

Responding to the concerns, a council parking officer said it is aware of parking issues on Riverside Road and its surrounding streets.

They added that a letter will soon be sent advising residents of the survey’s results with proposed actions included. 

The officer said: “There will always be different views on the parking controls that should apply in individual streets.

“We only make changes after setting out the options, listening to residents and businesses and making changes when there is a consensus in favour of this.”

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