Members of the Public are invited to stay for a discussion concerning the consultation for Westcotes residents parking scheme.
The results of the residents parking scheme will be presented and discussed at the next meeting.
Minutes:
Councillor Connelly gave an overview - of the current situation with regard to proposals for residents parking in part of the Westcotes Ward.
- Residents had been lobbying the Council since 1999 for some sort of parking restrictions – there were particular problems with commuter and football parking.
- Residents were consulted in 2003, a scheme proposed by the Council costing £48 was rejected.
- Further consultation took place in 2006 on a scheme costing £25. There were a majority in favour in the streets bounded by Hinckley Road, Fosse Road, Western Road and Upperton Road. Local Councillors, businesses, places of worship, Shaftesbury Road school opposed this scheme.
- The then Area Committee funded consultants to do further consultation on the problems with the scheme and possible solutions.
- Councillor Connelly agreed that there were problems with the standard Council scheme. He confirmed that no scheme would be imposed and that residents would determine whether any scheme is implemented.
- He proposed that the current scheme be amended, further consultation take place and it would or wouldn’t be implemented on the basis of the views of residents.
A resident enquired whether it would only be residents that got a vote on the new scheme. Councillor Connelly said that this issue could be considered, but any scheme would not be weighted in favour of businesses. He also said that people outside of the area proposed for the scheme would not get a vote.
Gill Hutchinson from MAC Associates gave the meeting details on the consultation that was undertaken.
- Gill outlined the methods that were used for the consultation – it wasn’t intended to carry out a full consultation with every resident.
- The overall result of the consultation was that 50% wanted a scheme, 33% didn’t want a scheme, 10% were concerned and 7% were very concerned.
- Reasons given for wanting a scheme were; parking problems – these were worst near Narborough Road, a lack of parking when carrying shopping, dealing with children and for meals on wheels. There was a worry that if you went out, you would not be able to park on your return.
- Reasons given for not wanting a scheme were; already pay tax – don’t see why should pay more, cost of visitors permits, stealth tax – money making, there wasn’t a parking problem, it wouldn’t resolve the problem, concern that it wouldn’t be enforced, the effect on local shops, cars not from the UK being exempt and the effect on people just outside the area.
- Of the businesses that were consulted 97% were opposed to any scheme.
Reasons for this were; concern on the effects on the business, no place to park for customers; £100 for a permit when rates were already paid, it would make it difficult to sell a business, there would be no staff parking, there was no clarity over who would get a permit and businesses would be likely to leave the area.
- Places of worship – these were concerned at the effect on their worship services, where worshippers would park.
- Shaftesbury Road School – teachers had to carry a large amount of papers / books etc, cars to the school therefore public transport would not be an option.
- Gill outlined details of a scheme in London which she felt could be copied. The main feature of which was that residents parking existed only until 11am to prevent commuters from parking and there was a three hour limit to those who did not have a permit.
- Moving the matter forward, it was intended to hold workshops with residents, businesses, Councillors and Officers to develop solutions.
Questions / comments from Residents
A resident commented that he felt that it would be a moneymaking scheme as £2000 would be generated from his own street. Councillor Russell stated that the £25 cost would be to cover the administration for the scheme. The cost of wardens to enforce the scheme was funded by the fine income. She reiterated the point that nothing would imposed on residents and the way forward was to develop solutions to the problems.
A number of residents complained about the consultation which had taken place, commenting that it was of low quality and there wasn’t sufficient time to respond. Others claimed that they hadn’t seen any of the details. Councillor Connelly said that the recent consultation wasn’t intended to cover everyone. He also noted that he and Councillor Russell had delivered a leaflet to every house in the affected area giving details of it. He said that the consultation had identified a wide range of problems associated with the proposed scheme.
A resident commented that there were more reasons given in the presentation, which were of a more important nature in opposition to the scheme than those in favour of it. Jill Hutchinson commented that this was what arose from the consultation, there could be further comments arising from any statutory consultation which needed to take place.
A comment was made suggesting that the Council had made the parking problems worse by allowing too many bars to open.
Leicester City Football Club should have provided a park and ride facility, but weren’t forced to do so. Councillor Connelly commented that this should have been provided, but two former Liberal Democrat Councillors objected to the proposed site. The football club then went into administration and following this they have not found it possible to identify a suitable site
A comment was made suggesting that £25 a year was a reasonable cost. A resident had experience of living elsewhere where the costs were significantly higher.
A comment was made querying whether it would be possible to guarantee a parking space for those who paid for their permit.
Further comments were made about any proposed further consultation – it should include businesses, the whole of the ward and be available in community languages.
Councillor Connelly stressed again the fact that there would be no scheme imposed on residents by the Council. Any request for residents parking scheme would be put to a vote of all residents in the area.
Councillor Russell commented that efforts had been made to work with residents on this issue. She asked that people put their views on sheets available at the meeting suggesting ways to improve the situation. She asked to be provided if possible with details of the numbers of business permits that would be required. Further she highly recommended that people get involved in the workshops that were planned to develop different ways of introducing the scheme. She also thanked people for taking part in the meeting.