The County Council, as the Highway Authority has the responsibility to consider all aspects of policy on parking including whether there should be residents’ parking zones and, if so, the extent, times and charges.  All new residents’ parking zones have to be preceded by a Traffic Regulation Order involving a statutory consultation, which is expensive, so the County has to decide the conditions under which it will embark on the process.

The paper that was put in front of the committee had none of this in it.    It was only concerned with the charges and whether the number of visitors passes should be limited.

The paper was a major disappointment and was rejected.  In effect, the officers were asked to go back and start again.  The committee even set up a small working party to scope out what was needed.

Councillor Catherine Smart commented, “This was one of the occasions when there was no difference in attitude or approach between members of the committee.  We were all, Lib Dems and Labour alike, very disappointed in the paper.    I am on the working party and will try and make sure that the next iteration is better.

“We certainly need to look at the charges but we also need to consider whether residents’ parking should operate on a Sunday now that Pay and Display no long has Sunday free.

“Also I have been asked, by a trader, why there are no traders’ passes, as there are in some places?    At present traders have to rely on the householder remembering to get a visitor’s pass which could be tricky if it is a plumber coming to mend an unexpected leak.

“But above all, we need to get clear the process and criteria for setting up a new residents’ parking area.  There are places in the city where a large proportion of the residents want a residents’ parking zone because they are seriously inconvenienced with commuter parking.

“As local campaigners, this is one  of the issues Romsey Lib Dems try and keep an eye on with regular surveys.  I therefore can say with some confidence that, in spite of the problems, there is no area in Romsey where the majority of residents want a residents’ parking area.

“Some people think we should have city-wide residents’ parking schemes to stop all commuter parking, claiming it has got much worse since the County imposed their £1 charge at the Park and Ride.  It is being claimed that there is no longer a gap between those affected by parking connected with Addenbrookes and those affected by the railway station.

“Congestion and commuter parking are undoubtedly linked and it is unlikely that we can solve the problems of congestion by just throwing City Deal money at it.   Personally, I am not yet convinced we need city-wide residents’ parking but we have to get our criteria and processes straight.  Just ignoring the issue is not helpful.

“If you have any comments you would like to make on parking issues – please get in touch.”
Cllr Smart can be emailed at chlsmart@cix.co.uk

   Leave a comment