PARKING in the middle of a roundabout is not something the Highway Code has much to say about, but Earley and Newtown motorists could force a reprint.
Motorists had been parking on the surface underneath the A3290 flyover, cracking the paving stones and causing a potential danger as they entered and exited the space.
In January this year, Wokingham Borough Council placed a temporary parking restriction on the middle of the Suttons Seeds Roundabout.
Vehicles that carried on parking receiving tickets from wardens, while Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, Wokingham Borough Council’s executive member for highways, warned: “Parking behaviour at this location has worsened and we now have drivers illegally joining the carriageway at locations other than the access road in an unsafe manner.”
She added that heavy goods vehicles caused damage to the bridge supports.
The parking suspension ran out in July, and in recent weeks motorists have clocked that the space can be used again. Users have included a team from Volker Highways as well as lorry drivers leaving their cabs. Ordinary cars have been left as well: Newtown is part of Reading Borough Council’s parking permit scheme so additional parking space is welcomed by residents.
But it appears that time could be running out for this perk.
A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council told Reading Today: “Since this matter was drawn to our attention, we have instructed all owners of vehicles parked on the roundabout to remove them from the site.
“The area in the centre of the Sutton Seeds roundabout is neither suitable nor safe for use as a car park and it is clear that firmer controls on parking at this site and on verges in London Road will be necessary.”
They added: “We’re now drawing up parking restrictions to make the previous temporary controls permanent. This will follow the usual statutory procedures, including a period for objections to be made.
“Drivers are warned not to use this area and to remove any vehicles immediately.
“Those left for several days and not checked by their owners may be considered abandoned and removed, while those without a valid MOT or vehicle tax may also be destroyed.”
Notice advising of parking restrictions have now been added to the site.
