Debate over double yellow lines outside South Cambridgeshire village pub

Double yellow lines could be painted outside a village pub to improve safety - but some objectors have called the plan a “waste of taxpayers’ money”.

Cambridgeshire County Council has responded to a request from the parish council by proposing the lines outside and opposite The Carpenters Arms in Great Wilbraham, as well as along the curved bend in the road from Church Street, to the High Street, to Angle End.

The lines would address “perceived safety concerns” from motorists parking on a blind bend outside the pub.

One respondent said that was a “very rare occurrence” as the pub has its own car park, and another sent photos showing no issues.

One objector said: “The proposals are a waste of taxpayers money. The money would be better spent on addressing the many potholes that cause damage to vehicles and pose a safety concern to cyclists.”

Council officers said the funding would come from a ring-fenced budget and said comments from other villagers and the parish council suggested parking on the bend was a “frequent enough occurrence to be a concern”.

But one objector said: “The double yellow lines will only push customer parking to other areas of the village and will displace residents’ vehicles/their visitors’ vehicles.”

And another respondent said: “The proposals do not consider residents outside of the suggested double yellow lines who regularly have difficulty getting in and out of their driveways.

“Residents that currently park further along the road tend to not park opposite driveways, but displaced visitors/customers will not be as considerate.”

The council officers said it was “accepted” that there could be some displacement, but deemed that there is “sufficient parking in the surrounding area” where there were no safety concerns.

A couple of people voiced support of the plans, with one saying it would deter people from parking and blocking people’s driveways.

A councillor representing the area and the traffic manager at the county council are due to consider the proposal today (30 April), with a decision due to be published at a later date.