'Parking needs to be solved' – Plea to help Hutton Village residents

One resident of Hutton Village said access to the village was often impossible for larger service vehicles, and said recently oil deliveries had been delayed and a plumber was unable to work on a property.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is to consider a car parking strategy which aims to improve car parking for residents, visitors and businesses across the borough.

The council’s cabinet will meet on Tuesday, March 9 to consider a number of proposals that will guide the management of the council’s car parking between 2021 and 2024.

Proposals include free parking for electric vehicles and the council will incentivise the use of electric vehicles by commencing a 12-month pilot, whereby free parking will be offered across all council car parks.

It will also review the Traffic Regulation Order to better manage parking at Newton-under-Roseberry to make the village safer at busy times.

The strategy will consider introducing parking restrictions which are enforceable in Hutton Village, Guisborough, to ensure that the area remains safe, as well as assist with traffic flow in and out of the village.

Hutton Village Road is a popular place to park for people wishing to access Guisborough Woods and has been the subject of complaints of inconsiderate parking resulting in obstructions.

Car parking in Hutton Village on a fine day

Christine Roberts, who has lived in Hutton Village, near Guisborough, for 35 years, said parking in and around the village is causing huge problems with access ¬– and there needs to be parking provision created to address it.

Mrs Roberts said: “This road was never built to cope with our lives today. It is a problem that needs to be solved and can only be done so by the various groups involved working together and not against each other.

“Although lockdown has compacted the problem this has been going on for much longer and it is because the road cannot cope with its new demands.

“The size of the equipment required by the farms and forest at times are huge. Car drivers are parking where they are trying not a nuisance but don’t realise what may need to pass.

"The crux of the problem is, at certain times that access to the village is tricky, unsafe for walkers and difficult for those who want to park.

“Recently a road-side assistance vehicle and my plumber were not able to get their large vehicles up the road because of parking, and a neighbour had her oil delivery delayed twice because the wagon was unable to get past.

“There is an easy solution - car parking provision.”

There are also plans to look into parking provision in Saltburn, Marske, Redcar and Eston.

Parking on a weekday at Marine Parade, Saltburn

A spokesperson for Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, said: “Many of these proposals are based on feedback we have received from residents. Our borough is diverse and beautiful and home to many different types of businesses. We have popular coastal destinations such as Saltburn and Redcar which attract lots of local day trippers looking to enjoy time by the sea.”

“Our aim is to ensure visitors and businesses have access to first class car parking, whilst protecting the interests of our residents. We also want to move with the times and make it easier for people to pay for parking and introduce electric vehicle charging points. This is just the start of the process. If Cabinet agree to proceed with the schemes, residents will be able to be involved in the consultation process to give their feedback on the new proposals.”