Neighbours parking on berms causing safety concerns for resident

Monday, 19 December 2016

Parking on berms is illegal but it hasn't stopped some Auckland residents obstructing sight vision for neighbours.

An Auckland woman is fed up with neighbours illegally parking on berms and is calling on Auckland Transport to take action.

Ellerslie resident Kelly Storey said despite numerous phone calls and emails to Auckland Transport (AT) and local MPs nothing has been done about illegal parking on berms outside her house.

An Ellerslie resident has had enough of her neighbours parking on berms posing a safety risk when she turns out on to the main road.

Storey lives on busy Auckland road Main Highway which features dotted yellow lines, making street parking illegal.

Storey said her neighbours have been using the berm as a car park for the past few months.

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Parking on berms is illegal in Auckland.

Storey contacted AT who responded saying it would review signage in the area.

She was concerned about the safety of pulling out of her driveway and turning onto the busy road with cars parked on either side preventing her from seeing oncoming traffic.

On more than one occasion the neighbouring tenants have moved Storey's rubbish bins which she has left on the berm for collection day, onto the footpath obstructing pedestrians.

Storey said she would like the neighbours fined or given a warning.

A $40 fine could be issued for illegal berm parking.

AT spokesman Mark Hannan said parking on berms was enforced on a case by case basis.

He said anyone concerned about illegal parking should contact AT and where practicable a parking officer would be sent to investigate.

'Parking on a berm risks damaging the services running underground and risks causing problems for the line of sight of drivers exiting driveways,' Hannan said.

'If possible it is safer to exit a driveway driving forwards as this provides better line of sight and it allows the driver to enter the traffic flow more quickly.'

Auckland isn't the only city with berm parking problems.

For years, Miramar residents in Wellington took matters into their own hands and erected barriers to stop Wellington Airport users parking on their berms.

The residents resorted to illegally fencing off the berms after becoming frustrated with passengers and staff parking in the area.