Residents fight their local council over unfair parking spaces: “We’ve had enough”
- Replies 8
The residents of a multi-way street in Hinchinbrook, Sydney, have aired out their frustrations over a “useless” law imposed by their local council.
Apparently, they were being forced to remove their parked vehicles on the street’s nature strips, or else pay the staggering fine of $275. But the road is too narrow to handle two cars on both sides of the road, and not allowing traffic to freely pass through poses risks and prevents traffic flow.
The residents of Inverell Ave, in southwest Sydney's Hinchinbrook, are fed up over their council’s unfair parking rules. Credit: Channel 9.
Speaking to A Current Affair, Mario, one of the residents on Inverell Ave, said he's been parking his car on the curb in front of his house for six years now, and there has never been a problem.
Now, if the council continues to force them to park on the road, it would be too narrow for vehicles to pass through.
“Can you imagine if someone needs a fire engine down the street? What do you do, let the house burn?” Mario questioned the council’s decision.
Liverpool City Council has given the residents a one-week grace period before they start issuing fines for individuals caught illegally parking.
“The only thing I can think of is revenue, to tell you the truth. How can you afford $275 every time you come home from work?” Mario added.
“We’ve had enough.”
Another neighbour expressed her complaints about the decision as well, saying she often has to ask her neighbours for help whenever her car is unable to pass through the narrow street. “It’s a real pain,” she said.
If two standard cars are parked on either side, the remaining width of the road left for passing vehicles is around 2.4 metres.
“I've got a small car and I'd struggle to get through here, so can you imagine that truck trying to get through?” said Mario, pointing to his neighbour’s 2.5-metre truck. “He's got no chance.”
He continued to plead against the council’s decision, saying that it was unrealistic and possibly dangerous. The $275 fine was unforgiving, too.
“There would be accidents occurring here on the street because the road is so tiny,” he said. “We're just average families, we come home from work and have to worry about getting a fine.”
“It's very problematic, it's a very serious issue.”
Vehicles sometimes can't get through without having help from neighbours. Credit: Channel 9.
A spokesperson from the Liverpool City Council has already acknowledged the residents’ sentiments. However, they also made it clear that parking on the nature strip is illegal under NSW legislation.
NSW road rule number 197 says that parking on footpaths and nature strips is strictly prohibited. However, it allows parking on road-related areas that are specifically intended or constructed for the purpose of vehicle parking.
Apparently, they were being forced to remove their parked vehicles on the street’s nature strips, or else pay the staggering fine of $275. But the road is too narrow to handle two cars on both sides of the road, and not allowing traffic to freely pass through poses risks and prevents traffic flow.
The residents of Inverell Ave, in southwest Sydney's Hinchinbrook, are fed up over their council’s unfair parking rules. Credit: Channel 9.
Speaking to A Current Affair, Mario, one of the residents on Inverell Ave, said he's been parking his car on the curb in front of his house for six years now, and there has never been a problem.
Now, if the council continues to force them to park on the road, it would be too narrow for vehicles to pass through.
“Can you imagine if someone needs a fire engine down the street? What do you do, let the house burn?” Mario questioned the council’s decision.
Liverpool City Council has given the residents a one-week grace period before they start issuing fines for individuals caught illegally parking.
“The only thing I can think of is revenue, to tell you the truth. How can you afford $275 every time you come home from work?” Mario added.
“We’ve had enough.”
Another neighbour expressed her complaints about the decision as well, saying she often has to ask her neighbours for help whenever her car is unable to pass through the narrow street. “It’s a real pain,” she said.
If two standard cars are parked on either side, the remaining width of the road left for passing vehicles is around 2.4 metres.
“I've got a small car and I'd struggle to get through here, so can you imagine that truck trying to get through?” said Mario, pointing to his neighbour’s 2.5-metre truck. “He's got no chance.”
He continued to plead against the council’s decision, saying that it was unrealistic and possibly dangerous. The $275 fine was unforgiving, too.
“There would be accidents occurring here on the street because the road is so tiny,” he said. “We're just average families, we come home from work and have to worry about getting a fine.”
“It's very problematic, it's a very serious issue.”
Vehicles sometimes can't get through without having help from neighbours. Credit: Channel 9.
NSW road rule number 197 says that parking on footpaths and nature strips is strictly prohibited. However, it allows parking on road-related areas that are specifically intended or constructed for the purpose of vehicle parking.
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