Residents’ Parking Scheme – Analysis of proposals
Most KCG members will be aware that the City Council has produced several proposals over the last 20 years, variously referred to as Controlled Parking Zones, Resident’s Parking, Permit Parking, and no doubt several other designations. As the KCG membership was quite strongly divided on the principle of whether there should be some kind of parking scheme for Kingsdown, the Committee maintained a neutral stance on that specific point. However, once the Council decided that some kind of scheme would be introduced, the Committee felt that it was important to ensure that as many residents as possible were able to study, analyse and comment on the detail of the current proposals.
Several residents have been considering the Council’s latest suggestions, and the Committee has invited those known to it to make their thoughts available to a wider audience through the website. We do not wish to start, or encourage, campaigning, but we do want to promote balanced discussion so that residents can make an informed contribution to the more formal consultation which we understand is planned by the Council. We realise that to some extent we are taking a risk, as we do not have the resources to support an extended discussion or to edit contributions significantly. However, we are confident that contributors will maintain a balanced and tolerant approach. Anyone who is happy to supply their contact details is free to comment on the contributions via the ‘Comment’ facility below this item.
Here, then, are two contributions which we have received to date.
David Mellor (52 Kingsdown Parade): I am the contact for a group of Kingsdown residents – largely on Kingsdown Parade because KP is badly affected by current proposals. The attached note sets out our position, our intention being to raise awareness and to work for a scheme which doesn’t seriously disadvantage some (particularly those on KP without garages).
David’s note can be downloaded here: David Mellor – Letter to residents 14.11.09.
Professor David Thomas, Chair of the Prior’s Close Residents’ Association, has also produced a discussion paper, which can be downloaded here: David Thomas – Kingsdown RPZ discussion doc
November 15th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I am mindful of the letters from david Mellor and david thomas.I had originally welcomed a resident’s parking scheme , but am now concerned for the reasons identified. Professor Thomas’s suggestions sound refreshingly sensible and must surely be worth a go.
November 15th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
this won’t be a very articlulate reply but here goes:
100 permits a year (50 free/50 paid) gives each of us just two visitors (friends and family) a week. Or if we need a builder, electrician, decorator, plumber probably one visit a week.
If we use all our permits on socialising and friendship then how does our plumber/sparky/builder/decorator park nearby to offload tools etc?
I guess we tell them to use the pay and display spaces? Imagine the response we’ll get from the builder when we say “i say old chap would you mind awfully parking in the pay and display and move your van every two hours” !
RPZ might seem a good idea but thats just one small item, of which i,m sure there’s more, that hasn’t been thought through in enough detail by the council on the impact on our daily lives
November 16th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I would certainly support Prof. Thomas’ proposal for a ‘curfew’ parking scheme. If there is strong support for this alternative, what is the best way of conveying that to the powers that be?
November 30th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I recently moved into the area and was pleased to find unrestricted parking. Having just been through the introduction of a CPZ in Edinburgh I can predict what will happen. It will be much worse than anyone has appreciated. You will not be able to park outwith marked bays or outside your own zone, rendering cars useless. You will not be able to park outside your garage or drive, nor will relatives/friends/tradesmen. The number of spaces will be severely reduced. Permit allowances are too small in number and time for use by visitors/tradesmen. The number of dual use/pay spaces is inadequate for visitors/tradesmen. Visitors over the weekend who do not depart by 08:59 will be ticketed at 09:01 on a Monday morning. If you forget to display a permit or change/borrow a car you will be fined. Permits will be rationed and new people moving into the area will have to wait until old permits are surrendered. Hope this does not sound like a rant! It actually happened to us.