Parking charges move at Staffordshire Technology Park
Workers at Stafford’s largest business park could face parking charges with some criticising the move as a money-making scheme for council bosses.
Staffordshire County Council wants to introduce on-street charges and other ‘restrictions’ at Dyson Way – the road which circles around Staffordshire Technology Park.
The authority has declared the measures, costing £40,000, are to tackle ‘nose to tail’ parked cars making it ‘dangerous and difficult’ for people to access the site.
But chiefs have admitted the new restrictions will have the potential to ‘claw back’ money through tickets and fines.
The park includes large organisations including Stafford and Rural Homes, infrastructure support firm Amey, as well as Allied Healthcare. Yellow cones are used outside some of the premises with no parking symbols on them.
Workers have blasted the move claiming it is not necessary while residents in nearby Gladstone Way and Melbourne Crescent fear it will have a knock-on effect on their streets.
One man who did not wish to be named said: “It will cause problems for people who work here.
“It sounds like a money making scheme for the council. If there was really a safety issue they would have done something about it. There is nothing to stop them creating more parking spaces.”
Jackie Kelly, who works at Allied, said: “I have never had any problems on the road. As long as people do not park on the corners and everyone drives carefully then there is nothing to worry about.”
While Michelle Cresswell added: “The car parks for each of the buildings are insufficient so a lot of people have to park on the road. There is not a lot of traffic around here so it is not really a problem. We could just do with more spaces.”
Stan Collingwood, who lives on Weston Road, said: “People need their cars for transport to work. The car parks for the units here are very limited.
"I can’t see a problem for the council other than people parking by corners. But why can’t they just put yellow lines down there.”
June McDonnell, aged 56, of Gladstone Way, argued her road would see an impact due to the charges.
She said: “It will have a knock-on effect around here.
“Where else are the people going to park. They will come here.”
Helen Fisher, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet support member for Highways and Transport, said: “We’ve had complaints that cars park bumper-to-bumper on both sides of the road and right up to the junction with Beaconside and it’s often difficult for a light goods van to get through, let alone an emergency vehicle.
“This is still very early in the process and no decisions have been taken.
“We need to look at what options might be suitable and then consult with the businesses there about the best way forward.”
