A resident asked why the parking bays by Lloyds Bank building in Station Road could not be made into angled bays, which would double the number of spaces available and whether the car park signage could be improved. We got the following reply from Harrow Council’s Transport Department.
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"Echelon parking bays (or angled bays) are generally only considered where: traffic volumes are low; traffic speeds are low; parking turnover is low and road widths are acceptable.
In general, angled parking is avoided on all but local roads and private areas. Station Road in North Harrow is an important and busy thoroughfare and therefore not appropriate for angled parking.
Angled parking is generally more difficult to manoeuver into and causes confusion and more delay than parallel parking. The police do not support them as they apparently attract crime which is one of the reasons they were removed from Headstone Lane near Headstone Lane Station.
The bays in Rayners Lane were installed as the road was one way, the road was a local road and the road width was substantial. Nevertheless, angled bays caused considerable delay to the traffic flow and have recently been removed and replaced with parallel bays.
In regards to the car park signage; the lack of signing for off street car park on two of the four approaches to North Harrow was identified by an early traders meeting. We proposed some additional signing on Station Road which were approved by the traders. It was subsequently installed.
However, as a part of this [North Harrow regeneration] project we will investigate wherever additional signage could be installed. "
