Call to free up street parking in Sandwell

Dozens of people have signed a petition calling on parking restrictions on a busy high street to be relaxed – but it looks set to fall on deaf ears.

Sandwell Council has received a petition signed by 46 people concerning High Street in Cape Hill, Smethwick, calling for the public to be able to park on the road. Currently the use of parking bays there is restricted to resident permit holders only.

But businesses say it is difficult to find spaces in nearby roads.

Officers are, however, recommending that the borough's highways chief, Councillor Maria Crompton, takes no action when the matter comes before a meeting on Thursday.

A report to Councillor Crompton said: "The petitioners claim due to the lack of space in other nearby roads, the public and business owners are experiencing difficulties when looking for parking spaces.

"They request they be allowed to park in the residents bay without a permit at allocated times."

The report goes on to say that the bays should remain available only to residents at all times.

It added: "Observations on site did reveal parking spaces available in the residents parking bay during the day. However, to make the bay shared use may prevent residents from parking when returning during the day."

At the same meeting, Councillor Crompton will be asked to decide on two separate requests for residents-only parking schemes outside people's homes.

A total of 14 residents living on Trinity Road South, West Bromwich, have signed the petition to have new parking restrictions introduced in their road.

Some of the signatories say spaces become clogged with football fans parking for West Bromwich Albion home games, as well as parents collecting children from Holy Trinity Primary School and commuters heading to Trinity Way Metro Station.

A questionnaire was sent out to 19 residents living on the road, to see if there was any appetite for a so-called shared use scheme, which would allow non-permit holders to park for up to 30 minutes to pick up and drop off children at school and customer parking for the shop.

The results found that eight were against the introduction of the scheme and there was no response from a further four properties.

Councillor Crompton is recommended to take no action in response to the Trinity Road South petition.

A third petition from five residents in Darby Street also calls upon the council to create a residents' parking scheme.