Anger at plans for more residents' parking zones
PLANS to create more residents' parking schemes in Bristol have been met with outrage in St Paul's.
Residents have claimed that the council is attempting to fix a problem that doesn't exist in the area by making them pay for parking.
A consultation is under way in the neighbourhood. If the scheme is approved, it could see residents pay £30 a year to park outside their homes.
Notice of the consultation for proposed changes fell through letterboxes in St Paul's last week.
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Matthew Merttens, who lives in Ashley Road, St Paul's, said: "There is absolutely no problem with parking in the area. I park behind my house and there is never an issue with finding a space.
"I would be really reluctant to pay for a permit which is supposed to ease a problem that just isn't there."
The changes would require residents to buy parking permits which would allow them to park between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Vehicles without a permit will have to have a pay-and-display ticket.
Mr Merttens, a 24-year-old carpenter, added: "The scheme doesn't make sense as most people want to park their cars when they get back from work – when it will be free for anyone. It should be the other way round. It sounds more like a money making scheme than a parking scheme."
Max Hubbard who lives on Conduit Road, St Werburgh's, told the Post that there was no issue with parking on his street either.
Mr Hubbard, who runs car boot sales in Bristol, said: "It's just outrageous. It's just another fund-raising exercise by the council."
He added: "If you start introducing parking restrictions in the daytime that's not helping the residents. If there's a parking problem at all it's in the evenings."
The council says it is attempting to replicate the "success" of a scheme in Kingsdown and has similar plans for Redcliffe and Cotham too.
But residents in Kingsdown have accused the council's scheme of not benefiting its users.
Patrick Goudge, 27, who lives on King Square, Kingsdown, said: "It doesn't really benefit the residents.
"After work – when residents need the spaces – anyone can park there."
Bristol City Council has defended the schemes.
A spokesman said: "Bristol residents' parking schemes are not designed to make money. They are designed to solve problems.
"The consultation is about finding out if a scheme could work for St Paul's. The council is confident that a scheme could solve a lot of problems for local people, and there are already many in the area who support this view."
Comments
by JohnMichaels
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 10:15PM
“As a resident of Kingsdwon I can safely say that this is the best thing to happen in the area for ages. Our lovely Georgian streets are less cluttered with cars, reckless parking has disappeared, there is less congestion, it is safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and generally more tranquil. I can also always park outside my house as well, which is a joy after years of being plagued by commuters.”
by kromax
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 9:02PM
“"A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "Bristol residents' parking schemes are not designed to make money"
No neither was road fund license when it was introduced to pay for roads but then the politicians decided to 'raid' it for other purposes and now motorists pay around 60bn in tax.
look at charges in other parts of the country for RPZ it can cost several hundred pounds for one car now in some areas.
I am waiting to hear which mayor is not going to be anti-car (for real) and I will vote for them.”
by torysarecool
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 8:59PM
“Where the **** is Cabot?!”
by KBillies
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 8:20PM
“Residents' parking in Cabot is one of the best and well thought out policies in many years.
Well done to the clever people who gestated and got this policy through.”
by corncups
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 4:26PM
“£30 per year seems far too low a price for a residential parking permit. I would have thought that at least £300 per year would be more reasonable when you consider the sheer amount of space that several hundred thousand parked cars we have to accommodate in what would other wise be a very pleasant city.”
by DM_Fishponds
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 3:02PM
“QUICK !
. . . get all the LibDem 'vanity schemes' finished before the new Mayor for Bristol is elected in November.
(S)he might not agree with us ignoring public opinion and wasting public money.”
by dungbob
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 1:23PM
“on Brigstocke rd the parking stays static all day long, because it is full of commuters who don't want to use NCP car parks / buses / cycle - all for good reasons - but it means as a resident you cannot return within a 5 minute walk of your house between 9-5. I don't need to park outsied my house, but it would be nice to be relatively near for herding children and shopping. Personally I don't object to an RPZ, as it worked well in Kingsdown - too well, as they all park in St Paul's instead.
The bit I'm dubious of is that there are already laws to control parking, yet they are only enforced when BCC focuses on an area. This morning it was impossible to cross over Gwyn St /Brigstock Rd as cars had blocked the pavement/corners, and anyone with a pram / wheelchair would have to go on the road. This is standard parking on Brigstocke. Am i to really believe it will change when the RPZ comes in?”
by katachua
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 11:40AM
“"The consultation is about finding out if a scheme could work for St Paul's."
And then the Council will do what it had planned in the first place.”
by Alpin
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 11:28AM
“so if i live in another part of bristol. the payment of my community tax, road fund license and general taxation means i cant use the road facilities in St Pauls..????”
by marmeliser
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 9:43AM
“bristolians should RESIST haveing RPZ's at all costs. once introduced they're impossible to control - the council get control of your parking
first thing they do as well is put in more double yellow lines, and also single ones. this REDUCES the amount of available parking. in the end spaces re 'rationed' by price, and whether you move your car rarely!
there is also the issue of the 'hours', where if it's 'all day' - that is day 9 to 6 - where you need a permit, then you'll find towaway vehciles lurking in the road waiting to pounce. you'll have the devils onw job gettign a council to change ANYTHING about hours, lines or anythinG else. believe me i KNOW. the downright lies i've heard in ''defence'' of their ''policy'' defy belief.
it's another 'stealth tax' that does NOTHING to ''cure'' parking issues. and as for this notion of 'outsiders' parking in the road where you live - well don't we ALL do that in someone elses road from time to time?”