PROPOSALS to erect bollards on two Knutsford locations blighted by obstructive parking have been blocked.

Knutsford Town Council explored the option of installing lockable bollards on Cotton Shop Yard and Heritage Way in an attempt to resolve the ongoing issue of obstructive parking.

The findings were reported back to the Environment Committee last Monday.

It was determined that, as both sites are not owned by the council, such installations could not take place.

Heritage Way is owned by Tatton Estate and such permission would be required from the company to place a bollard on their land.

It was pointed out that Heritage Way provided access to businesses and therefore would cause considerable inconvenience.

Clr Yvonne Bancroft suggested asking Tatton Estate to install two thin dropping bollards on the site.

She said: “Every time people from the Heritage Centre want to start a walk they like to start it at the Canute mosaic but half the time they can’t get near it.”

Clr Simon Hutchence said it was a good idea but he didn’t see how it was going to work.

“I just fear it causes more problems than it solves,” he said. “If you have a key, how are you going to stop on the road to get out of the car, unlock the bollard, put it down, get back into car and drive through?

“It’s impractical.”

Clr Tony Dean said he didn’t see the huge problem with parking on the mosaic.

“The tyres are just touching the edge of it,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to be a problem.”

Cotton Shop Yard presented a difficulty as it is unregistered and therefore no owner details could be obtained.

The only potential option would be to ask Cheshire East Council if the bollard could be installed as part of the King Street enhancement scheme.

Clr Hutchence said: “If we don’t know who owns the land it’s a non-starter. We can’t go along putting bollards on people’s land without their permission.”

Clr Bancroft said that it would perhaps ‘flush out who actually owns it’.

“If traders don’t want people parking on there, there should not be any parking on there,” she said.

The bollards idea was scrapped after being deemed unsuitable and members resolved to come up with an alternative solution that is more acceptable to all parties.