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Langafel Close residents outraged by commuters who continue to steal their parking spaces

Villagers are furious with commuters who have been snapping up their parking spaces.

People in Langafel Close, Longfield, say they often wake up to the site of multiple cars being lined up along their street.

They say commuters using Longfield train station leave their cars on their road as parts of it has no parking restrictions.

Langafel Close, Longfield, commuters parking in the close.Picture: Sean Aidan (2361831)
Langafel Close, Longfield, commuters parking in the close.Picture: Sean Aidan (2361831)

Most of Langafel Close has a yellow line that restricts people parking there from 7am to 10am. However, residents say there are sections that have no restrictions - those parts are being used by commuters who arrive early and leave late.

One outraged resident, said: “I’m 83 years old, my carer came to get me but there were no parking spaces because of the commuters taking spaces. She had to park on a yellow line and only came in for five minutes, but when she went back out she had been ticketed.”

He also voiced his concerns about other elderly people on the estate that need carers to visit them in the morning, but struggle to find a parking space. The pensioner said he even confronted a couple of men. He said: “I just asked them if they would mind not parking here as there are carers who have to get in early, but all I got was some foul mouthed abuse.”

Langafel Close, Longfield, commuters parking in the close.Picture: Sean Aidan (2361819)
Langafel Close, Longfield, commuters parking in the close.Picture: Sean Aidan (2361819)

Dartford Borough Council leader Jeremy Kite is looking to resolve the parking issue.

He said: “I have enormous sympathy for the residents of Langafel Close and have made a commitment to help resolve their problem, if I can. One of the issues is that Longfield is a very successful village and attracts a lot of people which puts enormous pressure on our parking.

“We have just implemented parking controls in a couple of streets where residents had no parking at all and these have transformed the lives of people who live there. However, initiatives like those can have impacts on other roads so we have to tread carefully.”

Longfield residents suggested that St Mary Church, Langafel Close, had been affected by parking problems, resulting in some weddings and funerals being delayed.

Langafel Close, Longfield, commuters parking in the close.Picture: Sean Aidan (2361834)
Langafel Close, Longfield, commuters parking in the close.Picture: Sean Aidan (2361834)

A spokesman for Longfield Parochial Church Council said: “The community at Longfield Church is conscious of the issues caused by weekday parking outside the church and in surrounding streets. We have robust plans in place to enable access for funeral corteges and wedding parties in spite of the problem. We would ask all motorists to exercise consideration for those who regularly use the church.”

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