Ban on lorry parking is proving unpopular: Residents say they were unaware of consultation on restrictions

A BAN on lorries parking in Newcastleton’s Douglas Square has prompted protests from some villagers who were unaware there had been a consultation.
Scottish Borders Council implemented the Traffic Regulation Order banning lorries and overnight parking after consulting the ward members and the community council.
The proposed order was also advertised in the press and signs were put up at the location.
Davie Paterson, Hawick & Hermitage councillor, said several residents had voiced their concerns to him that they didn’t know this was happening.
He said: “They are up in arms at HGVs now having to park in the street. Some say this is an accident waiting to happen.”
An official from the roads department contacted the community council to say concerns had been raised by members about the new signs.
It appeared that not all the locals were content with the new restrictions which were previously consulted upon.
As part of the process, the ward members and the community council were consulted, there was an advert in the press and notices were put up on site during 2018.
The department was unaware of any objections received during the consultation period.
Councillor Watson McAteer and the community council asked for signage to be put up to make the new restrictions clear to all car park users.
The design, which included details of the restriction for vehicles over three tonnes, was forwarded to Mr McAteer and the community council.
The consultation exercises indicated that the restrictions in the Douglas Square car parks would mean that vehicles over three tonnes would be prohibited.
The roads department statement to Mr Paterson said: “It is an unrealistic expectation to consult everyone in the village.
“The community council was consulted because it is representative of the community and relies on its networks to disseminate information.
“It seems residents would have objected to some restrictions had they known about them.
“Notices on site and press notices are standard practice and we’re not sure there was much more we could have done, short of a letter drop to every household.
“If the general consensus is that the restrictions are unnecessary, the signs can be taken down. This means drivers are unaware of restrictions and they are unenforceable.”
The weight restriction has resulted in HGVs parking in Main Street and the council would like to know whether these are the vehicles of Newcastleton residents or non-local drivers who need to stop overnight.
If the vehicles belong to locals, they can be reported to VOSA because they may be in breach of their operator’s licence by parking in this way.
Larger vehicles parking in the street may have a positive impact on vehicle speeds through the village by creating a traffic-calming effect.