Agenda item

A representative from the Social Research Associates will give an update on the Residents Parking Consultation in the Clarendon Park area.

Kim Lampitt, from Social Research Associates Ltd, was introduced to the meeting. It was explained that parking had been an issue around the Clarendon Park area, for some time, and there had been considerable discussion concerning this, at the last Community Meeting. Social Research Associates Ltd, had carried out an independent survey and Kim had been invited to the meeting to speak about this.

Kim explained that in the second week of June, Social Research Associates Ltd had staffed a mobile stall in Clarendon Park, in order to conduct a short survey. This survey gave the following results:

• Support for the residents’ parking scheme varied from 41% to 74% in favour, depending on whereabouts in the Clarendon Park area people lived.
• People in the area from Clarendon Park Road, Victoria Park Road, Welford Road to West Avenue were particularly in favour of having a residents parking scheme.
• Parking problems in the evenings were significantly greater than during the morning, which showed that commuters were not necessarily responsible.  
• People felt that enforcement was important.
• Residents wanted visitors to Queens Road to be able to park in order to enjoy the facilities there.
• People wanted limited waiting time in their streets.

Kim explained that Social Research Associates Ltd planned to create a leaflet to be sent to every house in the consultation area in the near future, to ask if residents wanted a residents parking scheme. 

Various questions were raised as follows:

• Will the questionnaire state the nature of the parking scheme?  It was important that the viability of Queens Road should be maintained.

Kim replied that they would try to give as much information as possible, to help residents reach a decision.

Andrew Thomas, Head of City Development explained that the Council were trying to recognise that in part of Clarendon Park, over 70% of residents wanted to move forward with the parking scheme. However, there was a need for more consultation, which would take place with residents, emergency services and bus companies etc. There was a statutory process to follow which also laid down timescales to adhere to.

• I was surprised that Social Research Associates Ltd were doing this work. I don’t think that 250 replies was a substantial response. Why didn’t you do a door- to- door exercise?

Kim replied that the purpose behind the initial survey was to get an understanding of the process and added that they would be leafleting all the houses in target area, which would involve 3,300 residences. 

• Will the leaflets go to the whole of the consultation area?

The meeting heard that the whole area would be targeted, not just the core area.

• What would be the effect of the parking scheme on Queens Road businesses? A similar scheme that was implemented in Oadby and Wigston, resulted in Oadby being very quiet in the afternoons after 3.00pm.

Kim responded that there was a need to address the issue of visitors to Clarendon Park having sufficient time to do their shopping, generally browse round the shops and perhaps stop for refreshments if required.  There was also a need to consider parking for those staff who worked in the area.

• I have a residential property in the area, and a business on Queens Road. About five years ago, I submitted a very detailed plan, which provided a solution to our parking problems. I never received an acknowledgement for this.

Andrew Thomas requested that if possible, this plan should be sent to him, and he gave an assurance that the plan would be acknowledged.

• Property developments have created a greater demand for parking.

This whole issue is being looked at and will be tightened up. This problem had been raised at the Planning and Development Control Committee, where the need, for example, for the provision of adequate cycle parks had also been discussed.

• What was the cost of the Residents Parking Scheme and where was the funding coming from?

The Castle and Knighton Area Committee budget had initially approved £2,000 towards the consultation. The scheme itself would be partly funded by S106 money, taken from Developer’s Contributions. The legal costs for the scheme would be £5 - £6,000.

The meeting heard that Councillors were aware from talking to their constituents, that there were many concerns over parking, which were especially highlighted in those streets which were in close proximity to Clarendon Park. These concerns were also supported by the initial survey findings. As Councillors, they had a need therefore to respond to these concerns, hence the need for a consultation. The meeting heard that Councillors and the Council were mindful of the need to protect residents and shopkeepers, and this would be a priority throughout the process.