Waiting restrictions, eg yellow lines, are the province of the Conservative-run Cambridgeshire County Council, and we have asked time and time again for them to address the parking problems in the area. Regrettably, far too little attention has been given to the problems over the years. Even when residents have voted for residents’ parking schemes (as in Rathmore Road), or petitioned for yellow lines on safety grounds (Godwin Close), the County Council has procrastinated.

The latest situation is that the County has said it will not look at proposals in isolation, but only as part of an area-wide plan, looking at Queen Edith’s, Trumpington and Coleridge all together. A parking review group was convened last year, comprising councillors from all three wards. Cllr Geoff Heathcock is our representative.

The idea of looking at the big picture is sound, but the review has been dragging on for several months. Meanwhile, important proposals, such as the yellow lines on Godwin Close to protect children travelling to school (see previous post), have been held up, pending the parking review. This is not good enough, and I would like to see more urgency given to something affecting children’s safety.

As chair of the South Area Committee last year, I invited Highways officers to come to our local meeting on 16th July to report on progress – or more accurately, lack of progress. Do come along and tell them what you think: the meeting is open to everyone. It is at the Cherry Hinton Village Centre and starts at 7.30 p.m. There is a public question time at the beginning, followed by a police report, before the discussion on parking. For a full agenda, see the City Council website in the week before the meeting.