Over the past week, new signs have been appearing across the Town Centre and Centre East as the latest parking restrictions come into force. These changes were consulted on last year, approved in January, and officially took effect on 1 April.
The most noticeable change is the replacement of older signage with new signs, including those carrying the “AB” designation for Abingdon Town Centre. (The patch on a lot of signs is to hide ‘Mon – Sat 8 am to 6pm’ which does not apply to residents’ spaces.)
New restrictions have also been introduced. These include a new 30-minute waiting limit below the Co-op in West St Helen Street. A new pay-and-display machine is on St Helen’s Wharf.
In Centre East, there are double yellow lines in places where none were before.
This has created some interesting patterns along roads such as Penlon Place.
The Penlon Place lines look unsightly and out of place, however having witnessed the bin lorry trying to thread its way through the parked cars before their installation I can quite see why they are needed, imagine similar if a fire engine was urgently required to access deep into the development. Penlon Place is too densely developed, far too much rammed into a small space but amazingly there is at least relevant allocated parking. The paving bricks the lines are painted onto are all loose in the most heavily trafficked parts and move about when driven over, thus the paint has shattered and cracked straight away in some places so those lines will need inspecting and reinstating regularly.
Well, that’s all made town look nice and welcoming. 👍