West Suffolk Council says it is continuing to work to resolve parking problems on Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds, caused by Royal Mail

A community leader in Bury St Edmunds has said residents need ‘clarity’ over efforts to resolve ongoing parking problems connected to a business.

Andy McGowan, vice-chair of the Moreton Hall Residents’ Association, spoke of residents’ ‘frustration’ at the increased parking in their roads since Royal Mail banned its staff from parking their own vehicles on-site at the Skyliner Way delivery office last year.

In May, West Suffolk Council, the local planning authority, confirmed there was a breach of planning concerning the car park at the site.

It is understood that car parking spaces at the delivery office which were specifically allocated for private car parking for staff have been used for official Royal Mail vehicles.

When asked whether enforcement action was being taken by the council, a spokesman said ‘none so far’.

However, the authority said it was speaking with Royal Mail to explore alternative sites for staff parking, as well as how the business may encourage staff to walk, cycle, car share or bus to the site.

Mr McGowan said residents needed ‘some clarity’ from West Suffolk Council and added: “What we don’t know as residents is, yes the council is exploring a solution, but they could be for the next two, four, five years.

“At what point has there been enough time? Ultimately, it’s the residents that have to pay the price.”

He said a concern of residents’ was whether it required a serious accident to happen before real action was taken.

“That’s the clarity we need: how long is the process for finding off-site parking?” he added. “It’s just that frustration that there needs to be a solution. We cannot get to the point where we get to a year from this happening and we are still at the same point.”

He said he had seen buses and HGVs having to go onto the wrong side of the road because of all the parked vehicles.

Emma Crowe, who lives off Primack Road, a street off Skyliner Way, is among those to have expressed concerns over road safety due to the parking problems.

She said Royal Mail was ‘blatantly ignoring the terms’ of its original planning permission.

“They [Royal Mail staff] can park on our street as there are no restrictions, but the housing estate was not built to be a car park for businesses either and it is also only one business in the area that is impacting on the community,” she said.

Cllr Jim Thorndyke, cabinet member for planning at West Suffolk Council, said: “West Suffolk Council is continuing to work to resolve the parking issue caused by Royal Mail staff parking in the residential area.

“The council is speaking to Royal Mail to explore alternative sites for staff parking, as well as how the business may encourage staff to walk, cycle, car share or bus to the site. The council will continue to work proactively to resolve the issue, exploring all options including its formal powers.”

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We are continuing to work with the council to find a solution.”

It was towards the end of last year that Royal Mail took the action to no longer accommodate staff members’ personal vehicles at the delivery office.

It said this was due to the growth of its fleet and safety concerns following ‘incidents’ due to congestion in the car park.