Bedford Borough Council has promised to step up parking enforcement around the Putnoe rugby ground this weekend after concerns were raised about blocked roads and emergency access.
People living in Somerton Close and Dover Crescent have reported disruptions, with some users of the ground leaving their vehicles double-parked and preventing buses and delivery vans from passing.
An expectant mother living on Somerton Close, who asked not to be named, expressed deep concern that an ambulance would be unable to reach older neighbours or assist her if she goes into labour on a match day.
She said: “We completely understand that rugby fixtures create additional demand for parking, but this isn’t simply an issue of residents being inconvenienced.
“We have seen buses unable to get through to the end of Dover Crescent because of vehicles double-parked there, but our biggest concern is emergency access.
“If a large delivery vehicle and a bus cannot get through, we are very concerned about whether an ambulance or fire engine could access the affected roads when required.”
This concern stems, Maria says, from the age of local residents, which she says makes them more vulnerable to the knock-on effects of poor parking.
“I am 32, and my partner and I are the youngest residents on the road, with the majority of our neighbours being aged 60 and over.
“I am also due to give birth in early November. I am also particularly concerned about the possibility of the road being obstructed if I go into labour or require urgent medical assistance.”
Parent code of conduct
Those who use the ground on Wentworth Drive, which has been used for rugby since 1970, say they share locals’ frustration, pointing out that they are already doing more than required to manage the situation.
To ease the pressure on nearby streets, users have spread out their Sunday hours from a three-hour window to a full day and deployed volunteer marshals to monitor street parking around the grounds, but they can only go so far.
“The issues that these groups refer to happened further away from the club in side streets, and despite best efforts, we do not have the resources to monitor the entire area, nor enforce parking rules for the small minority that are not reasonable.
“This would be for the council’s parking enforcement teams to monitor,” said a spokesperson for users of the ground.
They also said the vast majority of players and families follow the rules, leaving only a tiny minority of drivers responsible for blocking residential streets.
They explained, “With in excess of 500 vehicles turning up each week, the .1% that think the rules don’t apply isn’t as bad as it would be if we did not communicate so clearly on parking.”
They added that they also take a dim view of those who park without consideration for local residents.
“If we do identify a parent causing a nuisance or blocking roads or drives, then we consider that a breach of our parent code of conduct and would always take appropriate action, which could include a ban from site,” they said.
Rising car ownership
Congestion on urban roads can also be amplified by a broader increase in residential vehicle ownership and the growing physical size of modern cars.
Recent census data shows there are now 1.38 cars per household in Bedfordshire, higher than the national average across England and Wales.
A Department for Transport (DfT) report also found that nationally around a third (34%) of households had two or more cars in 2024 compared to 8% in 1971.
This high baseline is worsened by a national trend dubbed “carspreading”, where newer models such as SUVs are taking up significantly more space on the road.
Analysis by automotive data technology specialist Vehicle Data Global (VDG) in July revealed the average car has grown by roughly one square metre over the past two decades.
This drastically narrows the drivable area on typical residential streets and squeezes available kerbside parking.
Parking problem
Local politicians have joined local Bedfordians and stressed they do not want to stop young people from participating in sports.
However, Cllr Michael Headley (Liberal Democrats/Putnoe) described the parking situation as “appalling”, noting that a tiny minority of visitors are damaging the reputation of responsible club users.
He said: “Visitors attending the club need to park with respect for local residents and obey basic rules of the road. The message should be clear: park properly and respectfully or even on a Sunday you’ll still get a ticket.”
Cllr Headley added that he will engage further with the community to look at suitable options to ease congestion and that he supports plans for more parking within the rugby grounds but did not reveal any specifics on those plans.
Council enforcement
While residents and club users may share the frustration of poor parking, the responsibility for enforcing responsible parking ultimately lies with the council.
Bedford Borough Council told the Bedford Independent that parking enforcement officers will patrol the area at weekends.
A council spokesperson warned, “The Council can issue Penalty Charge Notices to anyone seen parking across a driveway or on yellow lines.”
The council said it could also explore adding further parking restrictions in Somerton Close, though these rules would apply to residents too.
Local people are asked to report those who park on yellow lines or across driveways to the Council’s Parking Services on 01234 718359.
The council spokesperson added, “If parked vehicles are causing an obstruction, but are not across driveways or on yellow lines, then it is the police who have powers to take action.”
