Campaign group Mill Road 4 People installed a planter outside shops on Mill Road, Cambridge, near the entrance to Headly Street, to prevent vehicles from mounting the pavement “at this illegal parking hot-spot”. Mill Road 4 People launched its Pavement 4 People campaign in November 2023 with support from residents and businesses alike.
“However, we are still waiting for action to combat the problem,” said their spokesperson.
“Members of MR4P have spoken to several business owners who are also angry at the lack of pavement parking enforcement.
“The group has repeatedly asked councillors for planters and bike racks at the edges of wide stretches of pavement to deter illegal pavement parking.
“Although Cllr Richard Howitt, county councillor for Petersfield, applied for funding for bollards and planters back in December, nothing has yet been forthcoming and repeated requests for updates remain unanswered.”
Katie Hawks, vice chair of MR4P said: “Like most local people, we are fed up with our pavements being turned into car parks.
“This simple planter was made entirely from reused materials. It’s an attractive way to stop pavement parking, and the county council could easily work with local groups to put more where they are needed.’
MR4P’s planter installation comes after other Cambridge residents said they were frustrated at the county council’s lack of action on illegal parking and took matters into their own hands and painted double yellow lines on the corner of their street.
Paul Lythgoe, MR4P’s chair, said: “The county council should be ashamed that local residents are resorting to doing their work for them. Over the last few years, the situation on Mill Road has become worse and worse. It’s not unusual to see people parking at bus stops these days. People have had enough.”
The group has also asked for more enforcement officers. A Freedom of Information request showed that the county council spent £545,649 (plus some in-house overhead costs) on enforcement and received £2.4 million in fines.
Mr Lythgoe said: “It remains a mystery why, in these cash-strapped times, the council wouldn’t want to kill two birds with one stone by increasing this revenue stream.
“In the meantime, MR4P is calling for a 2-week targeted blitz on Mill Road, from 8am to 10pm, as a sign that the county council won’t tolerate the current free-for-all.”
