Rural hamlet 'blighted by dog walkers' set to get double yellow lines

Double yellow lines are set to be installed in a small rural hamlet that is being blighted by dog walkers.

Preston, just outside Kingsteignton, is a small hamlet of approximately 15 residential properties, and a small number of commercial farm-based businesses.

From Preston, footpaths give access to walks along the River Teign and out to Teigngrace and Stover, but the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee last Thursday heard that parking in the village had reached ‘epidemic levels’ and was ‘ruining their lives’.

The HATOC agreed that while they could not support the request of the Preston Residents Association for a residents parking scheme in the hamlet, they did back the introduction of double yellows lines.

Meg Booth, chief officer for highways, infrastructure, development and waste, in her report to the meeting, said: “Preston is a small hamlet of approximately 15 residential properties, and from Preston, footpaths give access to walks along the River Teign.

“Local residents have raised concerns about walkers, particularly those exercising dogs, parking in the village. There is a particular concern regarding commercial dog walkers, with reports that some people are walking up to 15 dogs at a time.

“Residents have previously requested that double yellow lines and residents parking bays be installed to resolved issues relating to parking, noise and dog fouling, and comparison has been made with Teigngrace, where a short section of double yellow lines have been installed.”

She said that Devon and Cornwall Constabulary have been asked for comment but had not responded, however in a previous letter they has said that no one has the right to reserve parking spaces outside of their homes on a public highway, and that, in the absence of parking restrictions, people are free to travel to the area to walk and exercise their dogs.

Her recommendation says that as Preston is a quiet local hamlet with no through traffic and low speeds, parking restrictions are not appropriate, but councillors disagreed and called for double yellows lines to be progressed for the hamlet.

Cllr Ron Peart, who represents the Kingsteignton and Teign Estuary ward in which the hamlet lies, said: “This has reached an epidemic position for those who live there from 6.45am to 10pm at night and they get abuse from dog walkers. They need the protection they deserve as residents as it is ruining their life living there.”

He had initially called for a residents’ parking scheme, but withdrew that proposals and instead supported recommendations from other councillors to trial double yellow lines instead, saying: “It would stop the parking and tick the box.”

Cllr Jackie Hook said: “I recognise that there is a problem as the volume of car traffic is huge, but I am not sure that residents parking is the right solution and it is not an appropriate location for one as usually needs to be paid for by itself, so it doesn’t fill any of the criteria of the scheme.

“But there is justification for some double yellows due to the leisure pressure – a classic one is at Spitchwick on Dartmoor – so it is not exceptional and done in many other places in Devon. There are small communities who are engulfed by recreational parking pressures.”

Cllr Stuart Barker added: “Double yellow lines could be an answer. Clearly something has to be done to protect the residents of the villages and yellow lines are appropriate and they have a visual deterrent to those who want to park there. I don’t see why they have to come into the village and cause mayhem and there are almost more vehicles than residents in the village.”

And committee chairman Cllr Jerry Brook, on the residents parking proposal added: “Because it is a huge departure from policy, the likelihood is that cabinet won’t support it, so double yellow lines are a more pragmatic way to resolve the issue without getting a no from them.”

The HATOC unanimously agreed to support the double yellow lines proposals and will delegate authority to the chairman and the local member to work with the community for which specific bits of road they will apply to and then to bring forward the scheme as part of the annual waiting restrictions programme.