Safety and fly-tipping fears as cars set to be banned from Coventry's 'narrowest lane'

Residents have raised concerns over anti-social behaviour and safety on a road dubbed the "narrowest lane in Coventry." Fly-tipping and late night gatherings are afflicting Watery Lane according to locals, a council report said.

But a bid to tackle the issues by banning driving on part of the route was hit with six objections from residents. A decision on the move has been deferred and a councillor is set to visit the site following a meeting earlier this week, 17 June.

Coventry council worked with Allesley parish council on the scheme after more than 18 months of complaints from residents, papers for the meeting said. The single track road is only three metres wide in places and is popular with walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

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While there are no records of crashes on the road causing injuries the road's narrow width may be a hazard for these road users, the papers said. A plan to close its central stretch with lockable bollards was put forward in March.

But objectors said the physical closure would be inconvenient and impractical, especially at peak farming times. Officers admitted in the report that similar schemes elsewhere in the city have problems with keys not being returned.

Locals also claimed anti-social behaviour on the road is not that significant and officers found that data did not support claims that the lane is a "hot spot" for "persistent or significant ASB and flytipping," above what would be typically seen in a route in the area.

The move could also lead to problems moving to a different nearby road, Clay Lane, the report added. Officers recommended that the plan be turned down by the city's Cabinet Member for City Services for these reasons and explore turning part of the road into a 'Quiet Lane' with no physical closure instead.

But a meeting to decide on the move yesterday heard that Allesley Parish Council had asked for it to be deferred based on the data used in the council report. An officer admitted that reports could be made to Warwickshire Police meaning the assessment could be an underestimation.

Allesley parish councillors also called at the meeting for a visit by officers before the decision is made. Cllr Thomas Burton said the primary reason for the road closure is safety and added that council policy is to support walking and cycling.

He also claimed that one objector is actually in support of the scheme, and often has to remove fly-tipping. Another councillor, Simon Grove, said the reason he supports the scheme is safety reasons and highlighted the fly-tipping there.

He added: "I think it's the narrowest lane in Coventry." Cabinet member for City Services Cllr Patricia Hetherton said she is happy to visit the lane and see it for herself.

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