Different rule for middle class Wirral golf visitors (From Wirral Globe)

Different rule for middle class Wirral golf visitors

12:42pm Tuesday 4th September 2012 in Letters

I HAVE recently contacted Wirral Council to see if they could help alleviate the congestion problem caused by the extra traffic attending the car boot sales and football matches along Greenbank Road in West Kirby.

This is particularly bad during the Wednesday afternoon car boot sale as it inflicts on school bus traffic, and motorists returning from work. I suggested traffic wardens, parking bays, an extra car park area or re-siting the car boot sales. I got a very unhelpful response from the council to say that the car boot sales were lawful and had a licence – why did they get a licence if there was insufficient parking for it?

Unfortunately, there was no mention of tackling the double parking, inconsiderate parking very close to junctions, and congestion for the buses. But what a surprise, that same week I get a letter from Street Scene to say they will be placing “no waiting at any time traffic cones” along the length of Greenbank Road for 72 hours while the ladies golf is being held. Oh, so the middle class golfers from outside the area can stop us parking in front of our homes for 72 hours - with no provision for alternative parking for us - yet the congestion caused by the car boot sales cannot be addressed by the Council. It’s a clear case that there’s one rule for the rich who obviously have much more clout with the Council.

If the council can do this to “safely facilitate the event” by introducing “a number of temporary traffic management arrangements” for the mostly out-of-town members of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club – why can’t they look into measures to control the dangerous parking at the car boot sales that affects permanent tax paying residents?

Mrs R Taylor, West Kirby