Postal service says it is 'committed' to improvements as councillor asks police to delay parking crackdown while 'sensible solution' is found
Royal Mail is to review its parking facilities outside its Crown Gate delivery office in Runcorn.
Last week the Weekly News reported that police were planning a crackdown on motorists parking on the double yellow lines on the road.
Officers said they had received complaints about vehicles blocking the highway, which is frequently used by motorists stopping to pick up parcels from the sorting office.
Cllr Dave Thompson, Halton Lea ward, said he would be asking police to delay its planned action against drivers while a ‘sensible solution’ is sought.
He said the sorting office should have vehicular access, ‘especially for disabled visitors’.
Last week police said they would wait for Halton Borough Council to complete work repainting the double yellow lines before they began dishing out £30 fines.
They suggested that drivers could park in the free spaces at Runcorn Shopping Centre and walk over to collect parcels.
Cars parked on double yellow lines at Crown Gate in Runcorn.Cars parked on double yellow lines at Crown Gate in Runcorn.
Residents responding to the Weekly News article, said there were practical challenges and safety issues in crossing from the shops, particularly for drivers picking up heavy parcels or parents with prams.
Some, including Andrew Keam and Sam Cornah, recommended installing a couple of spaces for drivers making collections.
Bryan Bennett, writing on Facebook, said the footpath from Runcorn Shopping Centre is overgrown with nettles and brambles and strewn with broken glass.
Cllr Thompson said: “Before any police or council action, efforts should be made to contact the sorting office and businesses on Crown Gate to ask that they make reasonable arrangements for staff to park away from the road.
“It is essential that a busy sorting office has some means of vehicular access off the highway, especially for disabled visitors.
“There is not even a pavement or drop kerbs at this location.
“The police would be better having a crackdown on illegal parking outside schools and where there are known to be accidents black spots.
“I will be asking the police to suspend any action until a sensible solution can be found.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail continually looks to improve its customer experience and will review potential improvement opportunities to parking facilities at Runcorn.
“Our priority is to deliver all mail items first time and we offer a number of services to enable this, such as delivery to neighbour or on specific days, nominated by the customer.”