I can’t get my car out of my own driveway – even my wife’s funeral was ruined by selfish drivers in massive parking row
A PENSIONER has described how he can’t even get out of his own driveway, with selfish drivers ruining his wife’s funeral.
A row over parking within the Poet’s Estate in Pensnett, Dudley, has reached new heights in recent weeks.
The resident laid out cones to allow visitors to park outside his home for the funeral procession of his late wife.
But he soon discovered the cones had been removed – the latest incident in a problem that has been ongoing for more than 40 years.
A number of roads in the estate are used by visitors using the nearby Russells Hall Hospital to avoid on-site parking charges – much to the annoyance of residents.
He would even have to park a distance from his home prior to his wife’s death, having to use a wheelchair to transport her to their property.
The pensioner also said he receives abuse when challenging drivers parking, an often obstructing, near his driveway.
He told BirminghamLive: “Sometimes I can’t get out of my drive. I will go out and say ‘can you move back a bit more’.
“Sometimes they are alright. Other times they say ‘I’m okay’ and then you get a bit of abuse.”
The man, who did not want to be identified due to fear of abuse, said every street within the estate is packed with vehicles.
He described how residents were furious when the road became a rat-run for hospital users, but admitted many have now reluctantly accepted it.
Dudley Council has painted double-yellow lines along the streets as part of aims to crack down on the issue.
Local councillor Judy Foster said she was receiving regular calls from resident voicing their frustrations over being obstructed from leaving their driveways or accessing pavements.
She called on parking enforcement officers to target the area due to the volume of vehicles continuing to park in the streets – despite the deterrent of the double-yellow lines.
Streets within The Poet’s Estate are named after famous English wordsmiths, including Byron Street, Tennyson Street and Milton Street.
Dudley Council’s intermi director for environment Andy Vaughan said the majority of its parking enforcement officers concentrate on the town centre.
But he insisted they do patrol out-of-town areas where an issue is identified.
Mr Vaughan said 350 visits were made to the Poet’s Estate last year, leading to nearly 200 fines being issued.
Dudley NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Diane Wake said the hospital discourages staff from parking in local residential areas.