PEOPLE power has forced a U-turn over proposed parking bans to be enforced by Dudley Council in Halesowen.

Residents, shopkeepers and local councillors fought a raft of proposed parking restrictions including controversial plans for one-way systems on Highfield Lane, Hill Bank Road and Brookwillow Road and yellow lines on Howley Grange Road.

In March the council announced over 70 individual changes to the highways in Halesowen, resulting in petitions, complaints and objections to the restrictions.

The most controversial plans were to implement parking restrictions on Howley Grange Road, Shenstone Valley Road, Spies Lane, Goodrest Avenue and Frankley Avenue.

Furious Howley Grange Road shopowners claimed parking restrictions would destroy trade and they handed in a 694 signature petition to the council.

Susan Shipley, who runs Roses and Ribbons with her sister Lynne, said she was “ecstatic” as they ban would have “destroyed the businesss.”

She said: “I am over the moon, I never thought the council would change their minds. We would have moved because if a customer can’t pop in for a bunch of flowers we’d have been finished.”

Halesowen South councillor David Vickers backed businesses in their fight.

He said: “This has been a real example of people power and I am delighted that the parking restrictions will not be enforced on Howley Grange Road and surrounding areas.

“Councillor Taylor and I spent a lot of time speaking to local businesses and customers about the proposals and took up their cause to stop this happening.

“It is hard enough running a business now without having to deal with yellow lines. We’ve all been stuck in traffic on the road but it clears after a few minutes, it is not like we are talking about hours.”

A report for next month’s Halesowen Area Committee details the changes to the original proposals.

Plans to enforce a one way system on Brookwillow Road have been rejected after a 39 name petition and 23 individual objections. However, yellow lines will still be implemented after 35 people supported the restrictions.

Other proposed parking restrictions that residents successfully fought against were on Cherry Tree Lane, Grange Crescent, Hayseech Road and Islington.

Parking restrictions will be enforced in Colman Hill Avenue, Furnace Coppice, Cavalier Drive, Maypole Fields, Meadowbank Road, Thornhill Road, The Forge and Cradley Forge.