Residents discuss Sompting parking problems

Avon Close has become progressively congested with parked cars in recent years, with residents resorting to parking on verges and squeezing close to driveways.

Councillors called a meeting last week to discuss the issues.

Sompting and North Lancing county councillor Lionel Parsons said: “It is a close and was designed in the 1960s.

“In those days everybody had just one car but now a family has got several cars. With the volume of cars we have now got in the area it’s very difficult to find a parking space. We are just a victim of time, really.”

Mr Parsons was joined by Peverel ward councillor for Adur District Council Brian Boggis at the meeting, where it was proposed a residents’ association should be set up as a first step.

Residents told them the lack of spaces had been worsened by the unsuitability of a nearby garage compound, as there was no lighting an many of the garages were too small.

Many of the garages have also been sold off and are now used for storage, meaning vehicles originally using the facilities were now adding to the issues on the street.

Mr Parsons acknowledged funding for major improvements was unlikely to materialise in the short term but said by joining together, residents could lobby for changes in the future, as well as resolving local issues.

He said: “There is no funding for major changes.

“The options are very limited but what we can at least try to do is get a community residents’ association together.”

The meeting was also attended by Sompting Big Local vice chairman Trevor Crowter, who proposed to supply a plan of the area, so residents could map out the major issues in the area and note the improvements they would like to see.

He said: “One of the Big Local point of view one of our objectives is about empowering local residents.

“They don’t have any funds at the moment so we helped support them with funds for the hall hire and printing off maps for them. It is just what we are there for.

“It transpired it wasn’t just problems at one end of the close but both ends, but either end didn’t necessarily know about it.”

The residents will next meet at the Harriet Johnson Centre in Loose Lane, on Tuesday, at 8pm.

Mr Parsons said: “The meeting was very positive and there were a number of residents who were very driven and positive.”