DRIVERS daring to park in a Herefordshire street might want to think twice, with a bid to stop the problem launched.

Fears about dangerous parking in Leominster were raised at a recent meeting of the town council's planning and highways committee, with one local complaining of people parking on a bend in the town's Pinsley Road.

The local revealed that the parked cars had recently forced him to drive on the wrong side of the road, almost crashing with a cyclist travelling in the opposite direction.

"It was noted that the situation is dangerous for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, and could also affect access for emergency vehicles," the meeting minutes said. 

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The meeting heard that the problem has been raised with Herefordshire Council by councillor Jenny Bartlett, who said she would also contact the council's head of highways to ask that the situation is reviewed for safety reasons.

Leominster Town Council's grounds team will also be issuing parking advisory letters, taking photographs of the vehicles parked on the bend, and sending their details to parking enforcement, the minutes said. 

What does the Highway Code say?

Rule 243 of the Highway Code says that drivers must not stop or park on a bend except when forced to do so by stationary traffic.

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The same rule also lists a number of other prohibitions, including parking anywhere that would prevent access for emergency services, and that would cyclists’ use of cycle facilities

The rest of the rule's prohibitions are stopping or parking in the following spots:

  • Near a school entrance
  • At or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
  • On the approach to a level crossing/tramway crossing, opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
  • Near the brow of a hill or hump bridge
  • Opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
  • Where you would force other traffic to enter a tram lane
  • Where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles
  • In front of an entrance to a property