Huntingdon train station spaces causing parking nightmare

Complaints began flooding in after the entire east side and part of the west side of the car park site was re-surfaced in July 2014, a space covering 977 bays.

Abigail Shearing, 48, who regularly commutes from Huntingdon station said she often avoids the west side of the car park due to the size of spaces.

She said: “On one occasion I’d returned from London and there were two cars either side of me and although on the right side there was a bigger gap, it was no more than six inches.

“I knew I couldn’t get into the car without scratching the ones beside me, so I had to climb through the boot in my work dress, push down the back seats and get into the driver’s seat. It was a nightmare.”

She added: "I had to pay £7 for the pleasure of parking and not even being able to open my door."

Abigail had to climb through the boot of her car (left) to leave the bay. (Image: Abigail Shearing)

The station has two car parks, one just outside the entrance and another to the south.

Some of the bays have been measured as 2.1m wide by 4.27m long. 

According to the British Parking Association, parking spaces should be 2.4 metres wide by 4.8 metres long.

Andrew Bissette, 36, who commutes from the station to London said the spaces are so narrow, his vehicle has been damaged. 

"On one occasion I returned from London to find my passenger side wing mirror sitting on the car roof, someone evidently knocked it off when exiting the neighbouring bay, and I can't even fault them for the mistake."

Andrew returned from London to find his vehicle had been damaged. (Image: Andrew Bissette)

John Morris, the founder of Hunts Walking and Cycling Group said the problem lies with the increase in the size of vehicles rather than parking spaces.

He said: “More and people are buying larger and larger cars with SUV's beginning to dominate the new car market.

“Perhaps before changing to a larger car people should consider how difficult will it be to park it in a standard size car parking space as well as the environmental and societal impact of owning a SUV?”

The number of Blue Badge bays at Huntingdon train station have been increased to 44 with four more to follow. (Image: Govia Thameslink Railway)

A spokesperson for Govia Thameslink Railway said: “The spaces provided in our car parks are in line with the UK average, and although cars in general have increased in size over the years, the space allocated for vehicles at Huntingdon is still considered sufficient for most non-commercial vehicles.

“By far the vast majority of spaces in the car park do meet the size guidelines of the British Parking Association and we will review those few that do not.

“Disabled motorists can park for free in our Blue Badge spaces which are half as wide again as a normal parking bay and provide lots of room. We have just increased the number of Blue Badge bays to 44 with four more to follow.”