Lou's It owner 'devastated' as double yellow lines painted outside shop

Louise Winman, 51, has run Lou's It on South East Road in Sholing for more than 20 years but is now worried about losing custom.

Prior to the traffic marks being painted on September 21, Louise’s customers had been able to park opposite her shop.

Now, they have to park further away, which for elderly people with mobility issues is anything but easy.

Southampton City Council says it ran a consultation last December but no objections were received.

Louise Winman, 51, and the new double yellow blocking the path for her customers to park (Image: Louise Winman, 51, and the new double yellow blocking the path for her customers to park)

Louise said: “It’s heartbreaking to see an elderly person get out of their vehicle and not be able to get to you so I’m walking to help them out across the road to make it easier for them.

“Personally, it has devastated me so much that people with a disability are unable to walk a lot of distance to go to the shop - they’re worried, they’re going to hurt themselves and not going to be able to get to me, so they don’t want to leave their homes.”

READ MORE: Elderly woman left 'shaken and upset' after handing money to bogus callers 

As she sees it, due to the uncertainty about parking, customers may get their haircuts elsewhere.

Geoffrey Wilkinson, 80, has been coming to Lou's It since it opened.

He said: “I have been going to this barber for 20 years and I never had any troubles parking there.

“I was fortunate that I got a space close to the shop otherwise I wouldn’t be able to walk. I don’t understand why they would do this.”

Louise has also questioned the length of the lines.

She said: “Last week, they turned up and said they were going to paint them up to the driveway [of a nearby house] which is almost 16 yards and the whole length of the front of my shop.”

A spokesperson from Southampton City Council said: “There is no minimum or maximum extent for ‘no waiting at any time’ restrictions.

“The Highway Code recommends 10m either side and opposite a junction, with the road geometry and other factors determining the actual length of the restriction.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support in reading the Daily Echo.

Subscribing to the Echo means you have unrestricted access to the latest news, features and Saints coverage - all with an advertising-light website.

You will also have full access to Saintsplus, your new home for Southampton FC tactical analysis, features and much, much more.

Don't just take my word for it - subscribe today.

Follow the latest breaking news in the Southampton area by searching Southampton News - Breaking News and Incidents on Facebook

Follow the latest court and crime news on our dedicated group by searching Hampshire Court and Crime News on Facebook