Matchday parking around Sconce and Devon Park in Newark causes problems for nearby residents

Residents want the final whistle sounding on indiscriminate parking on their streets on matchdays.

The concerns come from those living in the Valley Prospect area of Newark who say that an influx of parking on weekends at Sconce and Devon Park, preventing residents from safely exiting driveways and making it difficult for buses and the emergency services to get through.

Trish Esham of Parkway, Newark said: “They always used to do football on the park, but now it’s got to the point with more pitches that the car park is full and they end up parking along residential streets instead.

“Some Saturdays there is absolutely nowhere to park, one lady has tried putting cones out and sometimes they park right up to the driveway and opposite so there is no room to get out.

“There are several pitches now and football has just taken over the park on weekends. So now there is no room for dog walkers or runners or anyone else that wants to use the park.”

After watching the situation worsen over the past three to four years, Trish decided to do something about it after speaking with neighbours who had also grown tired of the parking problems and started a petition.

“We set up a petition because we want the council to do something about it. Some of the residents are elderly or need care and they rely on visitors.” Said Trish.

“What we want to be done is increase the existing parking or limit the number of matches taking place so there aren’t as many cars all at once because it’s not fair on residents.

“We don’t want to stop it, it’s good for the youngsters, but we hope they can space them out because we are just fed up with it.”

Roughly 80 people signed a petition which Newark and Sherwood District councillor Laurence Goff presented to Keith Girling as a Nottinghamshire County Council elected member for Newark West Division.

Councillor Goff also raised the issue at the latest full district council meeting which was attended by residents who had signed the petition.

The district council noted the concerns and confirmed that all the relevant people and departments had been made aware of the situation, including county council highways.

It was also stated that there had been communication with the football clubs to ask them to communicate with parents and ask they to park further away and walk down to the park for games.