Schools, health centres and businesses have contacted Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, to call for Derbyshire County Council to introduce a new consultation on the Residents Parking scheme in Newbold. The new parking system has meant that Avondale Surgery on Avondale Road has lost around 50 patients since its introduction, St Mary’s junior school is often log-jammed and local businesses have lost considerable trade.

Mr. Perkins will present a 600 strong petition, signed by local people, to Derbyshire County Council next Friday at County Hall, Matlock. A number of issues have arisen leading to the meeting being called earlier this week. Frustration has erupted in the Newbold area as customers, patients and parents have received dozens of parking tickets despite many spaces appearing to be available on both sides of the streets.

Each business has received just one parking permit, despite many hiring around 5 local staff. Spaces along the streets without the new Resident Parking are taken by people walking into the town centre to work and the safety of schoolchildren travelling to St Mary’s is put at risk with parents parking on the roadside to avoid breaking the new rules.

Mr. Perkins said:-

“There are clearly many issues with the new residents parking system in Newbold. It has improved the situation for many residents which is excellent, but the number of business owners who have contacted me with genuine concerns shows that more needs to be done to ensure that all organisations in the area can continue to thrive without unnecessary barriers. The economic situation is hitting firms hard so we need to make sure that local businesses are given a fair deal to help them as much as we possibly can”.