Skegness Seafront Parking Woes Continue Despite New Bollards
In Skegness, local residents are expressing increasing frustration over an uptick in vehicles parking on grass verges and footpaths close to the scenic entrance of the seafront area. The issue, intensifying in the past three years, has remained unresolved despite the recent installation of bollards on Scarborough Avenue by the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC).
These measures were requested by county councillor Carl Macey and former Lincolnshire Police Inspector Colin Haigh, aimed at detering vehicles from obstructing the paths and beauty of Scarborough Avenue. Unfortunately, existing police resources were found insufficient to regularly issue parking tickets, leading to the exploration of alternative solutions.
“The initial approach of installing bollards was the quickest and potentially best move forward, having observed how vehicles were entering the footway over a period of time, mainly via the access and egress of the Scarbrough Avenue car park," said Councillor Macey. “In terms of their long-term effectiveness, this will continue to be monitored, and we will investigate the possibilities of using other measures as deterrents in addition to the bollards where needed.”
Growing Public Discontent
The topic caught the community's attention when resident Caroline O’Neill shared images of vehicles apparently ignoring the newly installed bollards on Facebook. This ignited a discussion in the Skegness Vent Facebook group and shed light on the concerns regarding the bollards' effectiveness.
“Cars and vans parking all over the verge under the trees just make the road look awful,” said O’Neill. She suggested resident-only parking on one side of Scarborough Avenue or providing free car park passes for those living in nearby flats as potential solutions. This viewpoint was supported by several locals who feel the current measures may not be proving effective.
A Concern for Locals and Business Owners
Concerns extend beyond the disgruntled residents, with local business owners like Paula and Martin of Eastleigh B&B expressing frustration over the situation. The concern centres around safety, with fears heightening after near-miss incidents involving cars parking on the paths and inconsiderate driving. They suggested a multi-storey car park might alleviate parking pressures.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Carrie Shields of Beachlands B&B, who proposed a creative solution of turning the grass verge into a dedicated parking area. She also advocated for a multi-storey car park, attributing the parking chaos partly to the inadequacy of parking permits.
Diverse Voices, Different Opinions
Not all residents, however, feel troubled by the issue. Julia Maule, the owner of Beachdene B&B, admitted that while parking on the grass isn’t ideal, it doesn’t significantly interfere with the conduction of her business or affect the pathway accessibility.
Meanwhile, local residents Barry Thornalley and Glenn Williamson suggested maintaining the green areas with some alterations. Williamson proposed creating gardens or small green spaces between the trees as a potential solutions, while Thornalley supported the idea of creating more parking space by altering the grassy area.
Officials Respond to Concerns
Officials like Councillor Richard Davies and Councillor Martin Foster have acknowledged the issue and stated that the council is determining potential solutions. Davies commended residents documenting instances of vehicles driving on footpaths, as the evidence could assist prosecutions. He also suggested additional green options to deter motorists, while ensuring accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians.
Despite increasing frustrations, it appears that finding an optimal resolve to the parking issue on Scarborough Avenue requires continued dialogue and compromise, with hopes that the newly installed bollards maintain their intended purpose over time.