AN OXENHOLME man has called for residents-only parking to be introduced because train passengers are leaving their cars on nearby streets to avoid parking charges at the station car park.

Paul Herd, of Helmside Road, appeared before the county council's local committee for South Lakeland to call on members to put in place measures to curb the practice, which he said had been aggravated by cars being left for days on end.

Speaking as a member of the Oxenholme Residents Association, Mr Herd said during 21 working days in March, he counted a total of 227 cars parked over a 155-yard section between the end of Helmside Road and Oxenholme Road to the station.

Mr Herd said people were reluctant to pay £5 to park at the station and that they had begun to park in the village, which squeezed residents out of their traditional places.

"The police have been down and confirmed there is nothing they can do about it. The neighbours and residents all come home from work and have nowhere to park," said Mr Herd.

The residents association had tried leafleting cars and a request to Virgin to reduce the cost of parking did not meet with any success, members were told.

"We just feel that we do need some kind of scheme, we need some help," said Mr Herd. "It has been bad in the village for a few years but it is getting worse, especially with the amount of executive houses being built. People are travelling to work by train and still parking here, even though there is a good bus and tax service. I think if they buy a train ticket, they should get £5 off the parking."

Speaking to the Gazette after his appeal to the committee, Mr Herd said the majority of people in Oxenholme went to work on the bus or made alternative arrangements but did not park outside anyone's property.

Mr Herd, who does not work because he receives a disability allowance, said when he visited Kendal he always paid to park.

He said the main annoyance for residents was those who left their vehicles outside their homes for four days or longer, and that yellow lines would only move the problem further into the village.

Committee chairman Anne Parker said the request for a scheme would be included in the Capital Scheme budget for this year for consideration by highways officials.

May 16, 2003 11:00