The council decided to paint double yellow lines down Chivers Road last December
By Local Democracy Reporter Josh Mellor

Angry Chingford Mount residents (credit: Steve Scott)

Angry Chingford residents say they are being “ignored” by the council after objecting to new double yellow lines outside their homes.

The yellow lines were approved last December, following a consultation period in July.

Waltham Forest Council argues they are necessary along one side of Chivers Road, in Chingford Mount, to make space for emergency services and waste collection.

However, residents who contacted the Local Democracy Reporting Service say they received no feedback on their email objections and have not seen any consultation results.

Chivers Road resident Debora Wright, who collected 52 signatures against the plan, said she has now made a formal complaint about the way residents have been “completely ignored”.

She said: “It’s a dead end, there’s no traffic, there’s no footfall and just an allotment at the top. We haven’t got through traffic, so what is the point?

“Why are they not telling us what’s going on? I wasn’t invited to any meetings they said they had had, it was just done. It’s just a complete farce.”

Debora said similar-sized roads which run parallel to Chivers Road have been allowed curb parking, showing it is possible.

In an email to concerned councillors, director of highways and traffic management Vala Valavan said the decision had “not been taken lightly”.

He added: “Unfortunately the footways in Chivers Road are not wide enough to allow parking without impacting pedestrians, which includes members of the public in wheelchairs, so we are unable to allow footway parking.

“I appreciate this is not the outcome residents were hoping for but we have a duty to ensure pavement space is adequate for pedestrians as part of any changes to the public highway.”

The council has not responded to questions about the findings of the consultation, saying only that comments and objections “were considered”.

Larkswood ward councillor Selina Seesunkur said: “As soon as these measures were announced, it was clear residents did not want double yellow lines in Chivers Road.

“Despite submitting a petition, the Labour administration continues to ignore residents, it appears they will do anything to get cars off the road by any means necessary!

“This is most undemocratic, what was the point of consulting if they were going to ignore residents anyway?”

Deputy leader Clyde Loakes said: “Yellow line parking restrictions help ensure that vehicles are parked safely so that visibility is maintained at junctions or bends in the road, and access can be maintained for emergency service vehicles at all times.

“We always work with local people to create a safe and positive experience when travelling within the borough, and details of all the latest road traffic schemes and consultations in Waltham Forest can be found on our website.”

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