Parked police cars 'causing road danger', claim motorists

nlnews@archant.co.uk
18 March 2010

MOTORISTS are being forced into the path of buses and other traffic because of police cars parked in a congested high street, it has been claimed.

Concerns that daily jams outside Hornsey police station in Tottenham Lane, Hornsey, are being fuelled by up to eight police vehicles parked outside.

Gardener Christopher Whelan, 47, of Wigston Close, Edmonton, who drives a Ford Transit van every day for work, said: "You've got to get around these cars but you have to drive on the other side of the road into oncoming traffic to get past. I have narrow misses literally every day. The station is on a bend so if you're doing 25mph and you see a bus coming towards you, it's a bit of a shock to say the least."

The 24-hour police station is situated on the crest of a hill where Tottenham Lane meets Church Lane, Harold Road and Harvey Road. Mr Whelan claimed there were between five and eight police cars parked outside at all hours of the day. He added: "They have got a compound at the back of the station so why aren't they using that?"

Campaigners said the issue with parked police cars was part of a "bigger problem" with traffic jams.

Bruno Dore, chairman of the MORRSH Residents' Association covering roads between Rathcoole Avenue and Montague Road, said: "I wouldn't want to single out police cars - you do see them park in a somewhat obstructive fashion but you see that with lots of other motorists too. It's quite a tricky sort of treble junction which is all pretty tight and congested and these parking problems are unfortunately the nature of the beast."

Superintendent Chris Barclay, in charge of operational policing in Haringey, said: "There is a limited amount of parking available in the rear yard at Hornsey police station, but it is an old building and the provision available is inadequate for the needs of today's police service.

"Officers using police vehicles to convey prisoners, victims and witnesses to the police station do face difficulties with parking."

He said the single yellow line outside the station allowed parking for five minutes between 8.30am and 6.30pm Mondays to Saturdays, but there may "on rare occasions be an operational need" for officers to park for longer, "especially given the lack of parking in the area".

He added the force was "looking" for more suitable parking, and the planned patrol base and custody centre in Wood Green "should help alleviate the problem".