Update: Parking Scheme

Members of the Residents' Association committee today met with Mr Steven Pickering, deputy corporate director of City Services, to discuss the issues affecting local residents. Mr Pickering explained how following a reorganisation within the council, his department is taking on responsibility for highways, traffic and parking within the city.

Not surprisingly, the discussion focussed on the hospital area parking issues.

Mr Pickering informed us that the latest proposals for a parking management scheme would be sent out to residents on 23rd November with a consultation event to be held on the 30th of this month. (More information will be published on this blog as soon as possible).

Prior to the meeting we had been informed by a council member that the proposals included a number of points which we raised with Mr Pickering.

Key issues include that in addition to the first permit for each household being free, the charge for second, third, etc. permits should be low e.g. £50 is excessive for a second permit.

Concerns were also voiced over a suggestion that 400 permits could be sold to the hospital, allowing staff to park in residential streets. Mr Pickering was told that this is unacceptable and would simply be encouraging the people who are causing the problems to continue to park without regard for the residents.

It was made clear that allowing parking in back lanes would cause a number of problems, in particular that it creates difficulties for residents moving cars into and out of yards/garages.

Mr Pickering was also told about the increased traffic in the 'ABC streets' and through St Gabriels Estate following the changes to the traffic lights at the junction of Chester Road, Kayll Road and Ormonde Street. It was also highlighted that the additional traffic caused by through traffic as well as people driving around the streets looking for parking was causing large numbers of potholes.

The 'no right turn' signs and road markings have been removed from the entrance to the streets off Chester Road opposite the hospital. We hope that the situation here will be confirmed shortly since many people are confused as to whether right turns are now permitted or not.

The Committee would like to thank Mr Pickering for his time this afternoon and for listening to the concerns of the residents.