Glasgow’s West End residents blast loss of parking bays

People staying in North Woodside Road in Glasgow’s West End are calling on council bosses to introduce stricter restrictions to prevent commuters dumping their vehicles to dodge paying pricey parking fees or to avoid entering Glasgow city centre’s controversial Low Emissions Zone.

They say the situation is now so bad that they are scared to move their cars to go for shopping – with some claiming they are often unable to get a space within half a mile of their own front door on their return.

One homeowner, who has lived in the street for just over seven years, told how his van was damaged due to a lack of space caused by the volume of vehicles trying to cram into the street.

Residents face parking misery (Image: supplied) The 55-year-old told the Glasgow Times: “The situation is at crisis point and because of works to the Connecting Woodside cycle project, we have lost 18 spaces or perhaps even more. On top of that, there’s no restrictions in the street after 6pm on weekdays, and none whatsoever at weekends, meaning it’s pretty much a free for all.

“Folk living here are asked to pay for permits, which we’ve been told may increase in the future, yet we have to put up with drivers from  other areas leaving their cars  for days or sometimes even weeks at a time. People have had enough and want the council to step in and sort this out. Even when there’s a relatively small event at one of the nearby bars or venues, the road is jam packed with people double parking. It becomes impossible to get in or out.”

The resident says the battle for a bay has already resulted in vehicles being damaged.

He explained: “The work being carried out to connect the cycle paths also mean that there’s no turning point in the street and my van was damaged by someone attempting to reverse without the space to perform the manoeuvre. People are parking in the loading and cycles bays and at times right up at the gates for the site entrance. It would be great if parking attendants came out to actually deal with the ones that park illegally.”

The Glasgow Times understands that residents have been raising their concerns with council bosses for several months now and say they have been told a review of the situation won’t take place until next year.

They are calling for double yellow lines or residents-only restrictions to be installed to help bring the issue under control.

(Image: supplied) Another resident told the Times that they want similar measures to those in place elsewhere in the West End.

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He said: “Other streets that are a ten minute walk away have parking limits in place from 8am to 10pm daily and at weekends, so why can’t we have the same measures introduced? It was bad enough but then the cycle lane project took bays away and just made everything worse.  At the end of the day, we are paying for permits that are effectively no use because outside of our homes is gridlocked. It really is frustrating when you get back from work and have to spend an hour or more driving around hoping someone shifts so you get a space.”

“On the rare occasion I actually manage to find a bay near my property, the second I leave it’s gone. Enough is enough, the people living here are sick of it.”

A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said they are working with residents to resolve the issue.

They added: “We are sorry for any inconvenience caused during on-going construction work, which is due to finish next week.

“This work is part of the Connecting Woodside project, which aims to improve and rebalance local streets and public spaces for walking, wheeling and cycling.

“The council has no legal obligation to provide on-street parking for private vehicles, but it does have a legal responsibility to manage road space as effectively as possible.

“Parking zones are brought in where parking issues have been previously identified and these restrictions are intended to promote road safety while allowing traffic to move as freely as possible.

“We always prioritise local residents through the introduction of parking zones and by managing the available road space more effectively, it becomes easier for residents to park closer to their homes.

“Parking controls are regarded as a crucial tool for the management of car use and the city’s transport strategy aims to support a shift to more sustainable forms of transport such as walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.”