Fears raised over parking confusion on busy road just outside Wellingborough

Confusion reigns over parking on a stretch of the A509 just outside Wellingborough in a dispute which could see residents left with nowhere safe to leave their vehicles '“ or even lose their homes.
For many years residents in London Road in Little Irchester have parked their cars on the grass verges outside their houses, which are a mixture of council-owned and privately-owned.For many years residents in London Road in Little Irchester have parked their cars on the grass verges outside their houses, which are a mixture of council-owned and privately-owned.
For many years residents in London Road in Little Irchester have parked their cars on the grass verges outside their houses, which are a mixture of council-owned and privately-owned.

For many years residents in London Road in Little Irchester have parked their cars on the grass verges outside their houses, which are a mixture of council-owned and privately-owned.

But now Wellingborough Homes tenants who live there have been told they must no longer do so - or face “having their tenancy considered”.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And they have also been warned against parking on the road itself because they could cause an obstruction and face possible police action.

Irchester parish councillor John Dunkley agrees parking on the road is a potential danger, but said: “Legally, as long as cars are taxed and insured, there is no reason why cars can’t park on the main road.

“What we want to see is dropped kerbs being put in but this would cost around £3,000 per household and nobody is taking responsiblity for doing it.

“In my opinion, especially when there is an event at Santa Pod, cars will not be able to get through if we park on the road.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We maintain the grass verges but cars who park there churn them up and that makes it difficult for us.

“It’s a catch 22 situation but there is literally nowhere else for people to park unless dropped kerbs are put in.”

One resident said that parking on the main road was “like parking at Brands Hatch”.

A letter to tenants from Wellingborough Homes, seen by the Northants Telegraph, says that causing a nuisance is a breach of tenancy agreement.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The letter reads: “The land in front of your garden is not part of your property, it belongs to Northamptonshire Highways department and unless you have permission from them you should not park on this land.

“Causing nuisance is a breach of tenancy agreement and therefore if our tenants continue to drive across the grassed areas as they have been doing we will have no option other than to consider tenancy enforcement.

“It is worth highlighting that we have also contacted Northamptonshire Highways department asking whether they would be prepared to remove the grassed area and install a layby.”

A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said that Irchester Parish Council had requested that it enforce parking rules - although Cllr Dunkley insists this was not the case.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The spokesman said: “At the request of the parish council, we have been asked to enforce the rules which prohibit parking on grass verges, and the housing association responsible for these homes has informed residents.

“However, if vehicles parking on the road are causing an obstruction to traffic, the police can take action.”