HAVE YOUR SAY – DOUBLE YELLOW LINES ON CORNER OF COURTYARD LANE?

Having had further representations from Badby residents about cars parking too close to the corner into Courtyard Lane (opposite the Maltsters) the Parish Council is prepared to consider again the issue of double yellow lines.  We are aware that there are differences of opinion about this in the village. It is the role of your Parish Council to make a balanced, democratic decision taking all views into account, while recognising that not everyone will be pleased with the outcome.

The arguments for and against which have been put to the Parish Council so far are as follows :

FOR :

  1. Gives more room for lorries turning into Courtyard Lane.
  2. Improves visibility for all vehicles turning right out of Courtyard Lane.
  3. Makes it less likely that visiting lorries, not knowing the village, will instead turn left out of Courtyard Lane and try to leave the village via Bunkers Hill (and get stuck on the bend at junction of Church Hill and Bunkers Hill).
  4. Will get rid of the “pinch-point” outside of the Maltsters (particularly at school pick-up times).

AGAINST:

  1. This is a village – we don’t want yellow lines.
  2. This would be the thin end of the wedge – if you are going to do this, why not put them right along to main green? Why not outside the Church where cars often obstruct the path?
  3. There is no evidence that there is any parking enforcement on the yellow lines we already have at the entrance to the village. So what is the point? Just a visual detterent for people who do not know the village?
  4. The pinch-point is a good thing – it slows cars down.

We must stress that Challis Ltd have not initiated this – they have indicated that they would be broadly in favour but the initial impetus did not come from them.

The Parish Council will be debating this issue at our meeting on 12th January 7.30pm. There is a “public participation” slot early on the agenda which will give villagers the opportunity to come along to share their views. If the consensus is that double yellow lines are needed then we will make an application to West Northants Council who will have the final decision.

Michael Thompson

Chair : Badby Parish Council

07738 274057