Illegal parking at The Wrekin 'puts lives at risk'

The arrival of warmer weather means people are using the Shropshire beauty spot more often, however the high volume of cars is becoming an issue.

One resident, Juliet Esp, claims the amount of visitors is leading to cars parking on double yellow lines. She says it could mean emergency services are unable to access the beauty spot. Police issued parking tickets to drivers parked illegally.

Mrs Esp, who lives just outside Little Wenlock, said: "There is a situation on the Wrekin at the moment where there are so many cars parking there due to the nice weather it is becoming dangerous.

"People are starting to park on the double yellow lines that we managed to get put down. It is just chaos and people are parking all over the place and making it dangerous.

"It is a national speed limit road, and people are not parking there safely.

"With all the bank holidays coming up it will just get worse and with the weather people are going to want to use the Wrekin."

Mrs Esp, who runs a shop in Much Wenlock, has called for people running events at the Wrekin to sort out parking, rather than adding to the problem.

She said: "What happens if an emergency vehicle needs to get there, they won't be able to park there or reach the person in danger.

"I was there on Wednesday and there were about 50 cars there as there was an event on, but when I asked the organiser of the running event he said his lot hadn't arrived yet.

"On Sunday it was just as bad, I have reported it to the police and I believe they have been ticketing the cars. It is just very, very dangerous and it will get worse. It is an accident waiting to happen."

Police working around the Wrekin have urged residents to contact them if they are having any problems. Sergeant Dan Taylor, from the Wellington West and Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, said they would be issuing tickets to people parked illegally.

He said: "The Wrekin is a popular attraction to local communities and visitors, particularly during the spring and summer months. Associated with the rise of visitor numbers is the increased level of vehicles that are parked around the Wrekin.

"Due to limited car parking spaces, car users park on the narrow, adjacent roads. Regrettably, it is not uncommon for some drivers to park illegally or in areas that cause obstructions.

"We will be actively patrolling this area to ensure that visitors are parking both responsibly and safely. For those who fail to do so, we will be issuing parking warning notices. Repeat offenders may ultimately face enforcement for offences of obstruction or illegal parking."