Displaced drivers cause residents parking woes

Workers parking in one of the few unrestricted roads near the town centre are driving its residents round the bend – but highways chiefs have promised to look at the issue.

Car park fees and the proliferation of yellow lines have been blamed for the ‘excessive’ numbers of displaced vehicles now filling Hillside Road.

More than 100 cars and vans now park each day in the well-used thoroughfare, with its six junctions, dozens of driveways and two blocks of flats – frequently inconveniencing homeowners and sometimes requiring the police to be called out.

“Our parking problems originate from 2014 when the council thoughtlessly installed double yellow lines in Beatlands and Cliff Road, which are not through roads,” said resident Charles Warren.

“This meant that the cars parked in these roads – all of whose drivers work in Sidmouth – needed to find other free parking while they went to work. Ideally, yellow lines on one side of the road would remove the problem altogether for us but the cars would inconvenience some other residents in another road.”

County highways chief Stuart Hughes said Beatlands Road and Cliff Road were restricted after concerns from the fire service and about missed refuse collections due to inconsiderate parking.

He said Devon County Council would look at the issues in Hillside Road in its next traffic order for Sidmouth or the traffic management plan for the town.

Councillor Hughes added: “In the meantime, I would appeal to commuters to be more considerate and think about where they are parking, and to even consider using the Manor Road car park.”