FAMILIES flocking to Ruislip Lido during the weekend are risking a fine aftter being caught out by a lack of public parking.
Work has begun to create an overflow car park in Willow Lawn to accommodate more cars than the public car park can hold, but in the meantime many are risking a ticket and an expensive day out.
The new car park is due to be completed by early next month, but families currently visiting the lido, off Reservoir Road, Ruislip, have been parking along Ducks Hill Road and in Lakeside Close and Dell Farm Road nearby.
Simon Hambrook, who drives along Ducks Hill Road from his house in Northwood most weekends, said: “Opposite The Six Bells pub there is a grass verge and a yellow line.
“Some people park with their wheels on the grass verge because the road is too narrow, but if they parked in the road they would block traffic and buses wouldn’t be able to get past.
“It is a bit sad really; these families are just trying to have a nice day out.
“They aren’t blocking anyone in and they aren’t parking on a footpath.”
Forty parking tickets were issued to cars parked in Ducks Hill Road over the weekend of July 6 and 7.
A council spokeswoman said: “Signs are clear. It does say ‘no parking’.
“If residents are unhappy they can challenge their tickets by writing to the council.”
Neighbours living nearby feel some motorists are not considering their needs.
Elena Fraser, 22, lives in Lakeside Close, which has about 25 private parking spaces for householders in her street.
When the Lido car park and nearby roads fill up with cars, she says, people park in private spaces, often leaving rubbish from their day out strewn along the road.
Miss Fraser said: “It’s a big problem with the residents here. The council hasn’t signposted which spaces are private.
“All we have is a cone and people move it out of the way and park there regardless.”
It is hoped the overflow car park will solve the problem. The car park at Breakspear Crematorium, in Breakspear Road, will also still be available for visitors to the Lido to use at weekends.
