VERGING ON A SOLUTION

12.01.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd May 2007

Cllr Ann Raistrick (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton Ward)

Cllr Ann Raistrick (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton Ward) has managed to ensure that a problem verge on Greenside in Oakenshaw will be dealt with by Kirklees this summer.

Local people approached Cllr Raistrick complaining about the mess that was regularly being made of the verge outside their homes by parked cars.

Cllr Raistrick says: "Residents on Greenside, especially those who live directly next to the verge, came to me with their complaint asking for something to be done."

"The stretch of road is narrow and drivers are forced to park up on the pavements and the verge."

"This is a common enough problem. Vehicle tyres churn up the soil, making a terrible mess, particularly during the winter months and after heavy rain."

"I and my fellow ward councillors had previously agreed with Kirklees that the pavements on Greenside would be improved this summer using moneys devolved to the ward. We have now spoken to officers and extended the scheme to include the verge area. It will now be tarmaced over which should resolve the problem once and for all".

"I am in favour of preserving grassed areas as much as possible. However, in this case, unless we were to put in parking restrictions which I don't think is suitable, the problem was just going to keep on coming back".