By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Cheltenham residents feel their concerns over plans, which they fear will worsen a “bottleneck” on a busy road, have been “completely ignored”.
Derry Banwell is concerned about the planned rollout of electric vehicle charging points in Charlton Kings.
Lyefield Road East home owners have objected over the plans which would take up four parking bays, she said.
“While we all recognise and support the move towards sustainable transport and reduced emission, we have serious concerns about the location on our road,” she said.
“Lyefield Road East is a narrow one-way road that already experiences significant congestion, particularly during school drop-off and collection times.
“Charlton Kings Infant School, the playgroup, is situated at the end of the road. It’s heavily used by parents, children, residents, delivery vehicles and emergency services.
“Not to mention it’s a cut through route from dropping off school children from Balcarras Senior and Charlton Kings Junior Schools.”
She believes the charging bays will take away the only free parking spaces and likely reduce the already limited road space creating “yet another bottleneck”.
Mrs Banwell said it would increase traffic congestion and idling vehicles which is always an issue and pose extra safety risks to children walking, cycling or crossing.
It would also lead to vehicles manoeuvring into tight spaces, increasing the likelihood of accident, she believes.
“The few available parking spaces are required for customers using the shops across the road in Lyefield Road West, chemist, cafe, Smith and Mann which hosts the Post Office, florist, all essential for villagers daily life and wellbeing,” she said.
“The safety of children and pedestrians must be the overriding priority in any highway planning decision. A one-way road serving a school environment is not an appropriate or safe location for infrastructure that will cause additional parking pressures.
“The residents have been completely ignored by every avenue contacted and only by chance a neighbour discovered that the road markings were going to go ahead this coming week!
“He was looking on highways to see when the London Road, which has been closed since September, was reopening. We’ve had the majority of traffic rerouted along our road since then.
“Copt Elm Road, around the corner, is a wide road, vast free parking spaces in the dip that camper vans take advantage of for long stay storage.
“We really are at our wits’ end and feel really abandoned by the Gloucestershire County Council for ignoring us completely and overriding our livelihood.”
Gloucestershire County Council has been approached for comment.
A public notice attached to a tree says the council is proceeding with the installation of the on-street electrical vehicle charging point at Lyefield Road East next week.
“This initiative is part of Gloucestershire County Council’s commitment to supporting sustainable transport options and improving access to electric vehicle charging for residents without off-street parking,” the notice reads.
“Work is expected to begin the week commencing March 2, and we will take all necessary steps to minimise disruption during installation.”