A major arterial road in Cambridge will become a no parking zone due to safety issues caused by parked cars.
On-road parking will be removed from both sides of Cook Street in Leamington between the high level bridge and the Shakespeare Street roundabout with the exception of three spaces outside Café 9.
Cook Street is used by more than 10,000 vehicles – including 1200 trucks - per day and is a main throughfare for cars traveling from Te Awamutu to SH1.
Waipā District Council service delivery group manager Dawn Inglis said the existing shoulder parking on Cook Street was too narrow which made parking unsafe.
“As traffic volumes continue to increase, it is becoming more and more dangerous for people to exit vehicles parked on the road here.
“More people – including truck drivers – are now parking partly on the berms and footpaths to keep their vehicles out of the traffic flow.
“This is causing considerable damage to the berms and makes it difficult for pedestrians to use the footpath – particularly those using mobility scooters, wheelchairs and prams.”
Inglis said a number of options had been explored to remedy the issue without removing the parking shoulder however, none were feasible.
“During consultation with residents and businesses on Cook Street, several ideas such as widening the road or widening a section of the road were suggested however, these came with a significant price tag.
“Cook Street is a designated major arterial route which is only expected to get busier as Cambridge grows so traffic movement has to take precedence over property access and parking.”
Inglis said, as part of the change, formal parking spaces would be marked out in Council’s off-street parking site and a restriction of 120-minutes for parking would be introduced.
“This is to ensure the space is being used as efficiently as possible and there is sufficient parking turn over to allow drivers the opportunity to park here.”
The parking changes will come into effect in the coming months.
Local residents, and staff and customers of Cook Street businesses are encouraged to use Burns Street for all-day or long-term parking and the Council-owned off-street car park for short-term parking.
