New plea as pavement parking problems return

Buy photos » Maggie Strong said she is getting fed up with having to go into the middle of Cheltenham Road to get past cars parked on the pavement. Picture by Marcus Mingins. 1711032MMR1

AN ANGRY resident who relies on a mobility scooter to get around has made an urgent plea for motorists not to park on the pavement of a busy Evesham street so she and others do not have to risk their own lives.

Maggie Strong who travels up and down Cheltenham Road on her mobility scooter to get to the town centre from her home in Blackberry Way has to go into the middle of the road if she can not get past a parked vehicle.

The Observer ran a front page story on the issue in April last year which appeared to have helped the situation but Mrs Strong contacted us again saying the problem had returned.

"I've been extremely angry as yet again I've not been able to get by on my mobility scooter with motor vehicles parked on the pavement, it is a nightmare," she said.

"This time it is worse than ever and even had to suffer verbal abuse from drivers when I have asked them to move their vehicle off the pavement.

"It has got to the point where I now pray before I leave my home in the hope I do not get obstructed. These cars have no reason to park on pavement as it is a wide road with plenty of parking room.

"I've decided not to bother to call the police because all they seem to do is just tell the offenders off and nothing more gets done. Something must be done to stop this."

Sergeant Phil Stayte, who leads the Evesham Safer Neighbourhood Team, urged Mrs Strong and others who are facing similar problems to contact the police.

“In the past Cheltenham Road has had an issue of people parking on the pavement but most people are actually doing it to be helpful and ensuring the flow of the traffic along the road," he said. "But it does reduce the width of the pavement.

"We haven’t had a complaint about any problems for many months, so if anyone is experiencing a problem they should contact the police.

"Following previous complaints, to raise awareness we have delivered newsletters and leaflets to local homes because it has often been local residents involved.

"Any particular problems in the past have been generally resolved by a knock on the door and a request to move the car, which have always been complied with.”

To report a problem call police on their non-emergency number 101.

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