Police Appeal to Parking Motorists

Rushden police may adopt a less lenient policy towards motorists who ignore the town’s recently-introduced no waiting restrictions. In future, anyone parking within the limits of the new signs during non-permitted hours is likely to find that they will receive more than a caution.

The police have appealed for co-operation from motorists and hope that it will be forthcoming.

Said a senior police spokesman: “Parking restrictions on the one-way system were confirmed last month. To avoid congestion we shall ensure motorists comply with the order.

“Some of the no-waiting signs originally erected for the two-way traffic system have not been revoked, and now that the order – bringing them into force on the one-way system – has been confirmed, we would ask motorists to refrain from parking in restricted areas.”

An order confirming no-waiting areas in Alfred Street, Queen Street, College Street, Victoria Road and Coffee Tavern Lane came into force several weeks ago, and an Order affecting the trunk roads – High Street, Church Street, Rectory Road, Newton Road and Wellingborough Road – has also been approved by the Ministry of Transport.

Welcome News

Because of recent attempts to keep the streets of the town free from congestion by introducing these measures local motorists will welcome the news that on Monday the Urban Council is to start work to improve facilities at the existing car park in Duck Street.

At present the park is used by a number of people, but the ground is now properly surfaced. When it is completed, fifty cars and 17 coaches will be able to use it.

Other parks in the town can cater for just over 100 vehicles, and there are a number of streets in which parking is permitted.

Are there enough parks in Rushden to accommodate anyone not wishing to fall foul of the law?

The Council Surveyor, Mr. W. J. Anker, thinks there are. He told the “Echo”: “At the moment there are adequate parking facilities – both in the parks and in streets where parking is permitted. These should meet immediate needs.”

However, he added that as more cars came on to the roads all over the country, it was obvious that more parks would be needed.

Shopkeepers

The no-waiting between 9 am and 6 pm rule seems to have most effect on shopkeepers – especially those in the High Street, the main shopping centre.

They are not happy about the restrictions, and would like to see the High Street “de-trunked” by the Ministry of Transport and regulations introduced permitting unilateral parking along the whole length of the street.

Noting the erection in the town of the new no-waiting signs, the secretary of the local trades’ council, Mr. L. F. Parkinson, said at the monthly meeting: “Some drivers will probably risk parking at first – until the police pounce.”

But if motorists make full use of the town’s car parks and streets where parking is allowed, and generally co-operate, the local police hope there will be no need to “pounce.”

One-Way Traffic Has Hit The Small Trader

Rushden’s one-way traffic system, in its third year, is by now widely regarded as a success by most people who live or pass through the town. But at the northern end of High Street it is not so popular.

In the past month three shops have shut, and it is said that there will be more closures in the near future, partly because the one-way system has driven trade away from that part of the town. “It is,” said Mr. E. G. Tompkins, “just as I was telling two years ago.” Mr. Tompkins, a newsagent, strongly opposed theidea of a one-way scheme and predicted that business would suffer.

Before the system was introduced, traffic passed both ways along High Street. Although the main shopping centre is at the other end of the street, the northern part found plenty of customers among shoppers passing by on their way to and from the larger shops.

Since the one-way system began, this has changed, claim the small shopkeepers. The people who pass their shops now are mostly on their way home – and not enough stop to buy goods.

Rumours

Last month two shops – Grafton Studios and Victoria Dry Cleaners – both closed down. On Saturday, Wyn’s Shoe Shop, in nearby Station Road, closed as well – and it is rumoured that other shops in that part of the town will shortly do so.

Mrs. W. Whitwell, who runs Wyn’s Shoe Shop, has moved her business to a site at the busier end of the High Street. She has had her shop in Station Road for about 18 months now – since the one-way system started.

Although Mrs. Whitwell did not think that the one-way system had much effect on her business, she said that trade in the northern part of the High Street was not as great as it was further down. Shopkeepers there needed a special “gimmick” to attract their customers – for there was little “catch trade” from passers-by.

When Mrs. Whitwell decided to expand her business she decided to move away from Station Road to the main shopping centre.

Moved Away

In High Street itself most northern end shopkeepers were emphatic that the one-way system has led to a slump in their trade.

Once there was a bus stop in that part of the street, and it was used by shoppers coming from Higham Ferrers and elsewhere. Many of them would walk down High Street, doing their shopping as they went.

Since the one-way system began, the bus stop has been un-used.

Although there is now another in Station Approach, many shoppers prefer to stay on the bus until the next stop, which is nearer the main shopping centre. The bus route by-passes High Street completely.

Although buses still use High Street when going in the other direction, most of the passengers are then on their way home. Few get off to shop at the northern end. There is a bus stop for buses going in that direction, but it is well away from most of the shops and is used mainly by people who want to catch the bus home, not by people who are getting off.

Mr. W. G. Richards, who runs “Do It Yourself” shop, said that re-siting the bus stop – which was suggested at a recent Road Safety Committee meeting – would probably help traders.

Difficulties

Mr. Tompkins pointed out the difficulties that cars have in reaching that part of High Street if they approach from the direction of Higham Ferrers. Once they could stop outside the shop, buy what they wanted, and carry on down the street. Now they have to turn up Rectory Road before reaching the High Street shops and double back. Few have the time or the desire to do so.

Still ‘No Waiting’

The Ministry of Transport’s decision to retain High Street, Rushden, as a trunk road will mean that the controversial “no waiting” restrictions will remain.

The County Council, which met last Thursday, had no objection to the Ministry proposal to maintain the street as part of the A6 and to give Skinner’s Hill, Newton Road, Church Street, Station Approach and Rectory Road the same status.

Originally, the council had hoped to have Ministry sanction so that Wellingborough Road and Washbrook Road, where north-bound traffic is diverted to avoid congestion in the centre of the town, would become part of the trunk road.

This plan has now been turned down.

Mr. Cyril Freeman, the Rushden Urban Council chairman, who recently said he hoped that the Ministry would make a decision about the future of the one-way system in the town, told the “Echo” this week:

“The Ministry has been trying to get out of paying the full maintenance cost for the much longer route via Wellingborough Road and Washbrook Road and, naturally, wanted to keep the trunk road as short as possible.”

This alternative route had been only experimental and was not lit to Ministry specifications, as were High Street, Church Street and the others making up the one-way system.

“If Wellingborough and Washbrook Roads had been accepted as part of the trunk road it would have meant the Ministry would have to pay the majority of the lighting costs,” he said.

He again expressed his wish that an alternative route – possibly from Skinner’s Hill along Duck Street – could be found, so that vehicles could park in High Street during the day.