Ring of truth

DO you ever struggle to park in Huntingdon town centre? Do you get frustrated by parking charges, which seem to be forever on the increase? I have the solution.

It has dawned upon me that anyone can legally park a vehicle on the ring road, free, all day. As long as you don't obstruct access to property, narrow the road to less than one vehicle's width or park on zig-zag markings near a pedestrian crossing, the ring road is available to all.

The stretch from the Old Bridge Hotel to the police station isn't a clearway, doesn't have any waiting restrictions on it, so is free and perfectly legal to park a car on all day.

This would, of course, cause traffic chaos, which would result in gridlock at peak times, but isn't illegal.

MARTIN GOODE

Approved driving instructor

Huntingdon

Editor's note: Cambridgeshire County Council, the highway authority, said: "The ring road in Huntingdon is a very busy part of the county's highway network with huge numbers of cars, lorries and buses travelling on it every day.

"While your correspondent is technically correct in saying there are no traffic regulations preventing car parking between the Old Bridge Hotel and the police station, it would be extremely dangerous and reckless to do so.

"Anyone parking there would instantly cause an obstruction on the highway, which is an important route for emergency vehicles as well as other road-users. If the police believe you are causing an obstruction by parking your car, they have the power to issue a ticket and possibly remove the vehicle.

"We are currently looking at possible traffic regulations for this stretch of road but, in the meantime, we would stress that parking on the ring road would not only cause congestion but also be very irresponsible. This is simple common sense, which we are sure all road users would understand.