The Kintyre Forum

Has anyone else noticed the number of double yellow lines just keeps on increasing and increasing in Campbeltown.

Best one has to be round Mafeking Place from Union Street round the corner on to Bolgam Street round the corner again on to Burnbank Place. Not just round the corner but three quarters of the way up both Union Street and Burnbank Place.

Funny to see cars in Union Street now parking on the opposite side of the street now! So you go down Union Street and Cadenhead and Campbeltown Kitchen on the right hand of the street with cars parked on the left to move to the left to avoid cars parked on the right hand side of the street!

The apparently sudden spread of double yellow lines in the town centre has been the talk of the steamie over the past few days. The ones painted around Mafeking Place are astonishing. Suddenly there's no parking on the Burnbank side, on Bolgam Street and most of the Union Street side. And it seems not to have been very well thought out. If people parked on the unlined parts of Union Street, between Reform Square and Bolgam Street, it would be possible - perfectly legally - to block the street completely between Eaglesomes and the photographer's shop. Assuming it's not blocked, there's now a chicane created by the way the side on which parking is allowed changes half way down.

I was so taken aback personally that I've been trying to find out how all this came about. Traffic Regulation Orders have to be published in the local paper as draft orders, so that here can be a period of public consultation, then the final, amended order has to be published with the date on which the order comes into force. I can't remember this happening. Can anyone else on the Forum? According to Argyll and Bute Council this was all done in 2010 when they were planning the new road for transporting the wind tower sections. They couldn't explain why the Mafeking Place restrictions could possibly be considered to have anything to do with that. My enquiries are continuing!

Even if all these restrictions were properly established, legally, I think their effect needs to be properly evaluated, or re-evaluated, now that we can see their impact. What can't be denied is that available parking space in Campbeltown has become very severely limited. There is now no parking all the way down one side of Millknowe; only two disabled spaces on the Aqualibrium side of Kinloch Road; no parking almost all round Mafeking Place; and the Police are booking folk for parking on the west side of Longrow, where there's a single yellow line. As well as the restrictions, you have to factor in the numerous spaces taken up on a daily basis by Council staff working in the Burnet building and the Assessor's office in Bolgam Street. The combined effect is a situation where parking in the town centre is becoming well nigh impossible.

And for all the restrictions, some streets haven't been lined, despite existing difficulties: Argyll Street, for example, or the Roading at its junction with Glebe Street. Maybe I shouldn't have said that, in case it gives them ideas.

Time, in my humble opinion, to take a second look at all of this.

Simply madness. Campbeltown should be encouraging people to visit and allowing them to park. Over the past year parking has become significantly more difficult. Campbeltown is suffering in the recession yet the council paint double yellows everywhere. You couldn't make it up.

Bobh wrote:Simply madness. Campbeltown should be encouraging people to visit and allowing them to park. Over the past year parking has become significantly more difficult. Campbeltown is suffering in the recession yet the council paint double yellows everywhere. You couldn't make it up.

Absolutely correct. Slowly but surely the life is being choked out of the town centre and it's hard pressed shopkeepers. Tesco and The Co-Op must be rubbing their hands, as soon, their premises will be the only parking space in town and shoppers money will disappear up the road to some faceless corporate headquarters.

Just to play Devil's Advocate, the problems noted could be eased if people working in the town centre considered walking the 400 metres to work rather than driving? Though I appreciate that some people have legitimate reasons (mobility, age, equipment to transport etc) I personally have lived on Davaar Avenue and in Kilkerran Park and always found this to be walking distance. Not many places in Campbeltown aren't! Unless you're doing the weekly shop of course. Always amazes me to see the crowds stood in the rain at the taxi rank in the early hours of a weekend, waiting 20 minutes for a taxi to Smith Drive!

We've lived here for 13 years and have never had any problem parking. I can't think of any time when parking has been a real issue. Everywhere is within walking distance of everywhere, so why all the yellow lines? Just seems daft to fix issues that don't exist!

Think there has been possibly an over the top reaction, but I could see it coming - since the knowledge of 'no traffic warden' - there has been some particularly mindless parking in Longrow South.

* which means if a lorry is delivering to one of the shops there it must double park and this causes road to become completely clogged up
* disabled badge holders are entitled to park but not where it causes an obstruction, but I am not sure they are aware of the second bit.
* the bus stop on Longrow outside Lorne & Lowland church is obstructed almost every time someone wants to use it.
(and often the one at Tesco)

but there is a precedent: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13712977

Here's what is now happening on Union Street

Click on image to see full

Kintyre Forum News wrote:Here's what is now happening on Union Street

Click on image to see full

That is plainly madness! - not sure contractors were all that on the ball - they painted 'bus only' instead of 'buses only' when they redid the bus stance, we told 'em it was wrong but they wouldn't listen!

Totally agree, and pure ignorance too. Would these clowns be happy if a fire engine couldn't get to house on fire because of their parking?

just as well Lorne and Lowland church don't do what, I'm sure, they would be perfectly entitled to.

UV, I think the point about Union Street is that the cars shown in the photo are parked perfectly legally. It's the lines that are the problem. In the past, without lines, people parked perfectly sensibly on one side only. Whoever planned (planned?!!) these restrictions created the problem.

WC1 wrote:UV, I think the point about Union Street is that the cars shown in the photo are parked perfectly legally. It's the lines that are the problem. In the past, without lines, people parked perfectly sensibly on one side only. Whoever planned (planned?!!) these restrictions created the problem.

Not sure I would park my car on a one way street opposite double yellow lines? Probably legal but there are people parking right at the junction which is not legal? Again, not a traffic warden so not sure.

Complete and utter shambles in the toon now.The only place that is congested and dangerous parking on corners is the opposite stretch of Burnside street around the garages.Trying to get out Burnside Street onto Lochend street or whatever it is called now is blinded sometimes by cars parked on the corners.Union street along Bolgom was no problem,so why this yellow peril now.Were's our local councillors now,seem to be very quite on this,anyone got answers?

Note the gap on the yellow lines in front of the parked car?

And whay else pops up,camera's attached to lamposts all around the town yesterday by this company http://www.nationwidedatacollection.co.uk/.

And whay else pops up,camera's attached to lamposts all around the town yesterday by this company http://www.nationwidedatacollection.co.uk/.

Wondered what they were, and what they were there for