Car parking problems making Telford mourners late for funerals

Clergy at both All Saints Parish Church and St Patrick's Catholic Church – which are next to each other in Wellington, Telford – have now appealed to Telford & Wrekin Council to impose a three-hour time limit on a lay-by in nearby King Street which has traditionally been used for funeral parking.

They are concerned that commuters are now parking in the lay-by all day because the station car park has a 10-hour limit.

In a letter to Telford & Wrekin's highways department, Rev Mark Ireland, vicar of All Saints, said: "This lay-by has been used since time immemorial for those attending funerals, weddings, church services and other other events at both churches.

"However, a significant problem arose in 2012 of this lay-by being jammed with cars parked from early morning until late at night, many of whom appear to belong to commuters travelling by train.

"This is causing huge problems for the midweek activities at both churches and is leading to inappropriate parking both in the surrounding streets and in All Saints' churchyard.

"I am aware of distressed relatives coming to funerals and being unable to find anywhere to park, and then arriving late for the service."

He added: "We continue to minister week by week to bereaved families whose stress on the day of their loved one's funeral is exacerbated by the difficulty finding somewhere to park.

Wellington Town Council yesterday agreed to also write to Telford & Wrekin Council to ask for something to be done about reinstating a three-hour limit which used to exist in the lay-by.

Councillor Pat Fairclough said: "There is an issue there and it comes from the station car park having a 10-hour limit.

"If you go to London for the day 10 hours isn't enough."

Councillor Roger Aveley asked why the restriction that used to be in place did not still exist, but was told it was removed as part of Telford & Wrekin's review of on-street parking in the town at the request of a borough councillor.