Content

10.1

The Committee considered a
report of the Executive Director of City Futures  considering the
results of extra parking surveys and the outcome of the
additional engagement with
businesses in Neepsend since the first
phase was approved in July 2023. It included a recommendation on
how to progress with a parking scheme in Neepsend by making a TRO to implement the remainder
of the original proposal, albeit with modifications

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport,
Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-
 

•      
Having considered the objections included in Appendix A, decide to
make the Traffic Regulation Order (as amended) in accordance with
the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

•      
Approve a more flexible approach to the number of permits issued to
business during the implementation of the proposed pay and
display/permit parking scheme in Neepsend, operating Monday to Friday (0900-1500) in
bays on Boyland Street, Bardwell Road and Neepsend Lane (between Rutland Road and Bardwell
Road) and operating Monday to Sunday (0900- 1500) in bays in all
other areas of Neepsend.

•      
Note that the Council’s Traffic Regulations team will inform
all consultation respondents accordingly;

•      
Note that a review of the scheme will be carried out after around
12 months of the approved scheme being active;

•      
Note the need to monitor the effects of the scheme and the
potential for advertising a further Traffic Regulation Order should
the effect of displaced parking lead to
one needing to being promoted;

•      
Note that the recommendations being implemented are subject to
funding being confirmed.

 

 

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The proposed Neepsend parking scheme should:

•      
Improve conditions for local businesses by ensuring the
availability of convenient parking spaces for residents, business
and visitors and giving them a greater level of priority where
appropriate through issuing permits;

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

Consideration was given to limited waiting,
without charging (e.g. 4
hours, no return within 2 hours), with permits
considered where
appropriate. However, this was discounted for
the following reasons:

•      
Enforcement of the restrictions are more resource intensive and
time consuming;

•      
Puts pressure on existing enforcement resources as limited
extra income through
enforcement may not cover additional
costs;

•      
Lack of consistency of approach with other areas of the
City;

•      
Residents and businesses could feel that they are being
charged to park in the area
where visitors (and potentially
commuters) may not; and

•      
There is anecdotal evidence from schemes around the City that
suggest that people may move
their vehicles part way through
the day to avoid the 4-hour
restrictions.

 

 

10.4.2

Consideration was given to
implementation of the whole scheme as
initially advertised. However,
this was discounted as it doesn’t take
account of the additional
business engagement and revised parking
surveys Neepsend.

 

 

10.4.3

Consideration was given to
cheaper all day parking tariffs. However,
this was discounted for the
following reasons:

•      
Demand must properly be managed through the setting
of
appropriate
tariffs. Otherwise, parking capacity for local
businesses,
residents and visitors could at times be inadequate

•      
Cheaper tariffs could also increase the occurrence
of traffic
circulating
searching for car parking spaces, leading to
increased
traffic movements.

•      
Lack of integration with local and regional
strategies.