MORE than 400 people have voiced their frustration at having to reverse into parking spaces from a busy main road.

Motorists  have  been  forced to back into the angled parking bays near Argyle House in Joel  Street,  Northwood  Hills, since Hillingdon Council changed  the  parking  arrangements last year, making it almost impossible to drive forwards into an available space.

Some 420 residents have signed a petition urging the council to allow people to drive forwards into a bay, citing fears that  'an  accident  is  waiting  to happen'.

The petition has been organised by Winchester Road resident Alan Lester, who is aiming to improve driver safety and maximise the use of parking spaces.

Mr Lester said: "People could drive forwards to park for about 40 years until the council changed it about a year  ago,  including  painting  white lines to designate a space.

"Now, parking bays are angled away from traffic flow, requiring drivers to reverse into them.

"This puts stress on the driver, as most people find reversing into a narrow gap not an easy manoeuvre - I hate reversing into a parking space, as most normal human beings do, because it's not natural.

"The  current  arrangement  means people often get frustrated as the traffic builds up, and many drivers are crossing the road to drive into a bay on the opposite side, which is an accident waiting to happen.

"We want the council to change the direction of the bays so people can drive forwards, without worrying that other drivers are breathing down their neck.

"Then when leaving the bay, they can wait for a break in traffic before slowly and safely reversing out.

"Ruislip,  Northwood  and  Pinner MP Nick Hurd and the Deputy Mayor of London, Councillor Richard Barnes  [Harefield, Con], have also expressed their support. It's great they are willing to get involved."

The petition has also been backed by Northwood Hills Residents' Association (NHRA).

NHRA chairman  Andrew  Riley said: "Some people are driving in a forward direction from the other side of the road.

"This is extremely dangerous as drivers simply cannot see oncoming traffic."

Mr Lester said he was told by Hillingdon Council that the parking changes  were  based  on  a  directive from the Department of Transport.

It suggests that because angled bays encourage  motorists  to  reverse  into them,  when  they  pull  out  of  the spaces, they are able to see other traffic more easily.

Mr Lester added: "It seems like the council is just covering its back, as it will get the blame if there is an accident."

The  head  of  transportation  and planning policy at Hillingdon Council,  Jales  Tippell,  said:  "There were no formal parking bays in Joel Street prior to the successful introduction of the popular 'stop and shop' scheme, which created free short-term parking  that  benefits  both  residents and businesses.

"Reversing into oncoming traffic is unsafe and against the Highway Code. The bays were designed in recognition of this, reflecting both common sense and current national road safety design  standards,  and  were  fully endorsed by the police."

* What do you think? Email Gazette reporter Siba Matti at sibamatti@trinitysouth.co.uk  or  post a comment at http://northwood.uxbridgegazette.co.uk .