Students and mail workers blamed for parking chaos

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Students and mail workers blamed for parking chaos at sixth form

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BUSINESSES are losing out on trade because students and postal workers are parking outside their units five days a week.

The parking problem has emerged since the new £33 million Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College opened in Stoke in September without parking provision.

It means the students – who already face having to pay to park at the nearby Fenton Manor Sports Centre – are parking for free in the unrestricted Old Mill Street, in Stoke.

They are being joined by Royal Mail staff who work at the firm's Leek Road depot and also want free parking.

But business owners claim it is affecting deliveries and means customers and staff cannot find parking spaces.

Tony Davies, pictured below, who owns metal gate manufacturer Distinctive Design, said: "Students and postal workers are parking outside our businesses because there are not enough spaces near where they work or study.

"It is affecting business as we are missing deliveries because the lorries cannot fit down the street when there are cars parked on both sides of the road.

"Deliveries happen two or three times a week and the lorries are stuck every time. They are usually forced to reverse onto the main road which is dangerous.

"Also, if there was a fire or any other emergency, then a fire engine would struggle to get down to us because of cars blocking the way.

"We have asked the people parking near our businesses to park elsewhere, and have even put notices on cars to inform them, but they never take any notice."

Businesses hadn't suffered any problems with parking until the college opened after moving from its Fenton site.

Chris Bootherstone, managing director at FGH Instrument Services, said: "The parked cars are giving our company several issues, mainly for staff and customers.

"We have four staff who all have cars and even they struggle to park. We are losing trade as customers have to turn away because they cannot park nearby."

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is sending traffic wardens to Old Mill Street after receiving complaints from the businesses.

A council spokesman said: "We have been made aware of the parking issues around Old Mill Street.

"Our enforcement officers will be monitoring the situation to see if any major obstructions have been caused."

The college, in Leek Road, has 1,700 students but only provides parking for staff and visitors.

College officials today declined to comment to The Sentinel about the parking issue.

[arnold cheshire]

sixth form college doesnt that involve 16 and 17 yr olds attending i doubt they drive anyway :

[Lounge Lizard]

sixth form college doesnt that involve 16 and 17 yr olds attending i doubt they drive anyway :

They do in Stoke, not bothering whether they've a driving license or if the car's stolen, or so I'm told.

[arnold cheshire]

sixth form college doesnt that involve 16 and 17 yr olds attending i doubt they drive anyway :

They do in Stoke, not bothering whether they've a driving license or if the car's stolen, or so I'm told.

no thats liverpool mate

[pickaname]

If its legal to park then balls to em.

[NWpostie]

Its all very well asking them to park elsewhere, if there isn't anywhere else to go, whats the point of asking some people only think about their end of the street, bit like postal work, our "customers" don't care about anybody except themselves and their little world.