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Search forHundreds sign up to oppose Bristol parking zone plan
Thursday, July 31, 2008, 08:00
It calls for Councillor Mark Bradshaw, the council's executive member for sustainable development, to scrap the proposal.
In less than a month, campaign group Keep Parking Free has collected hundreds of signatures from residents living in Clifton, Clifton Wood and Hotwells.
They are some of the areas where the council is considering introducing resident parking permits. Others include Redland, Southville, Totterdown, Kingsdown and Old Market.
One permit in a designated residents' parking zone would cost £40, a second would be £80 and a third permit would cost £500. Each household would be able to buy 100 visitor permits per year for £1 each.
However, the council has made it clear that in some parts of the city, where parking is particularly tight, residents may only be only allowed one permit per household.
Bernard Cooke, of Keep Parking Free, has now written to Mr Bradshaw calling on him to reconsider.
In the letter, he spelt out 10 reasons why the campaign group believes the plan will add to parking problems. They include:
The scheme does not guarantee permit holders a parking space.
Each permit would limit a resident to just one zone.
Many streets don't currently have parking problems.
Each visitor – friends, relatives, doctors – would need a permit.
Shops and other businesses would lose customers.
Mr Cooke, of Kensington Place, in Clifton, said: “For over 1,500 people to add their name to the petition in these circumstances shows that there is very considerable opposition to the council's plans.”
The council says it wants to bring in parking zones to prioritise parking for residents and businesses and to discourage commuters from bringing their cars into the city.
Last year, people in St Paul's said they wanted the first residents-only parking zone, fearing the Cabot Circus shopping centre would see shoppers parking outside their homes.
Residents have until tomorrow to return questionnaires on the scheme to Bristol City Council.
Mr Bradshaw said: “It's important to remember that the consultation is only seeking initial interest in measures to address non-residents' parking – with a view to much more detailed consultation on a small number of pilot areas where we can work together on local solutions to parking and traffic problems.”
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