Man fuming as commuters use multi-million pound estate as ’free car park’ to dodge low emission zone fines
Peter Collins wants Glasgow City Council to impose harsher parking restrictions after commuters have started using his estate as a free park and ride to dodge Low Emission Zone (LEZ) fines
A man living in a multi-million pound eco-estate has hit out at commuters using it as a "free car park" to dodge a Low Emission Zone.
Peter Collins is fed up of motorists leaving their cars on Glasgow’s plush Northbridge development, calling on council bosses to bring in tougher rules to crack down on the parking. Around 100 cars are being parked on his estate every day, Peter claims.
It’s after Glasgow City Council brought in controversial measures charging penalties to motorists driving in the city centre in order to cut down on pollution. Peter’s home sits right on the edge of the LEZ, and he claims a new cycle bridge recently built nearby has also led to more cars flooding the land.
The civil servant claimed his dog had been almost hit by cars twice and that his own family were struggling to park on visits. "The main issue we have is parking," he said.
He explained that the new cycle bridge over the M8 is a key route from their estate into the city centre. On the other side of the estate is the very start of the LEZ, reports Glasgow Live. "Everyone who wants to avoid the LEZ comes into our estate. It has now turned the area into free parking for the city centre. Normally there is in excess of 100 cars within the three streets."
He said the traffic is so bad that it’s impossible to park, deliveries get cancelled and his family can’t visit because there’s nowhere to park. "It is difficult to walk safely along the street. My dog has nearly been hit twice because it is so difficult to see with all the parked traffic." Peter claims that the blocked streets have made it unsafe for those living there, particularly pedestrians on the pavement.
"It’s a nightmare," he added. "The parking space allocated to you is constantly being used illegally. The whole point of the development was to create a 15 minute city. The estate was going to be eco-friendly but it isn’t at all. Hundreds of cars are here every day. For me it is hugely worrying, there is so much pollution in just these streets. I open my window and they are black with what must be emissions. I’ve fallen while walking on the pavement and broke my hip because I couldn’t see where it stopped and the road began due to a camper van parked on the pavement."
The resident says that this is not a new problem, but an issue residents have been battling with ever since they moved in. He’s now called on the local authority to bring in harsher measures. Peter, who has lived at the development for two years, added: "I’ve been emailing the council ever since I’ve moved in. It is just crazy that the amenities and infrastructure haven’t been looked at."
Peter said many were using the land outside his home as an unofficial park and ride to dodge LEZ penalties, and that harsher parking restrictions would "allow residents to park where they live and stop people dumping their cars".
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said: "We are currently considering measures to protect residents in Sighthill from people coming into the area to park in this way, and will hopefully soon present these for feedback and - later this year - implementation. ".
Peter claims hundreds of cars park in the area each day ( Image: supplied)
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