Views sought on proposed changes to Shropshire’s parking strategy
People are being asked for their views on some proposed changes to Shropshire Council’s new parking strategy.
The six-week consultation begins today – Monday (23 September 2019) – and will run until 3 November. The consultation questionnaire is on the council’s website – on shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved – and hard copies are available on request.
Drop-in information sessions are also being held in Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth and Ludlow as part of the consultation. [See notes for details].
Shropshire Council’s parking strategy determines the way that the council manages and runs its car parks and on-street parking. The new strategy was introduced in early 2018 and a number of changes have since been implemented.
However, a number of issues have since been raised and a number of amendments are being proposed to address these issues and concerns. [See notes for further information about each proposal].
Proposal 1 – Changes to the geographical boundaries for qualification for residents on-street permits to the existing Red zone and Blue area residents parking schemes in Ludlow.
Proposal 2 – To allow residents who hold on-street parking permits to also park within approved specified car parks that are in close proximity.
Proposal 3 – That all loading bays across the county excluding shared use bays should operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Proposal 4 – That when the number of on-street parking spaces available in any residents’ parking scheme is less than the number of properties, the on-street residents’ parking permit criteria be increased to two permits per property.
Proposal 5 – That the specified maximum number of resident permit and season ticket thresholds for all off street car parks are combined to give an overall maximum threshold for each car park.
Proposal 6 – That annual permit concessions be provided for holiday let properties located within an on street residents’ parking scheme.
Proposal 7a – That the times of operation of the evening /overnight tariffs on Mondays to Saturdays in Raven Meadows multi-storey car park, Shrewsbury are brought forward to by two hours to apply between the hours of 6pm and 8am.
Proposal 7b – That on Mondays to Saturdays in Raven Meadows multi-storey car park, Shrewsbury a two-hour rather than the existing three-hour tariff cap to the evening/overnight tariffs should apply.
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said:
“The new parking strategy has greatly improved the way that we manage and deliver parking services. New pay and display parking machines have been installed across the county. All new machines have facilities for cash, card and contactless payments. Digital permits and tickets are also being rolled out through the MiPermit system. Other improvements include improved ease of enforcement, improved customer satisfaction and more streamlined service with a large increase in chip and pin, contactless payments and digital ticketing.
“However, feedback shows that a few amendments are needed to improve things further and to address concerns that have been raised, and we’re now asking people for their views on these proposed changes.”
All responses to the consultation will be carefully considered before any changes are implemented.
Following the consultation a formal Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation and approval will also be required prior to implementation.
Further information
1. The drop-in information sessions are to be held, as follows:
• Shrewsbury. Wednesday 2 October – 2pm to 4pm; Big Town Plan unit, Darwin Shopping Centre
• Bridgnorth. Wednesday 9 October – 2pm to 4pm; Bridgnorth Library
• Ludlow. Wednesday 16 October – 4pm to 6pm; Mascall Centre
2. Copies of the questionnaire are available on request as follows:
a. By emailing tellus@shropshire.gov.uk
b. By calling 0345 678 9077 from Monday 30 September.
3. The proposals, in full, and reasons for them, are as follows. See the consultation survey for the reasons in full.
Proposal 1 – Changes to the geographical boundaries for qualification for residents’ on-street permits to the existing Red zone and Blue area residents parking schemes in Ludlow are assessed and implemented if, after full consultation, any changes are deemed appropriate.
Why? Concerns have been raised and requests received for changes in permit qualification from one zone /area to another for certain addresses within the Ludlow schemes. It is considered that a best fit review should be undertaken to include consultation with residents and the local councillor.
Proposal 2 – To allow residents who hold on-street parking permits to also park within approved specified car parks that are in close proximity.
Why? A number of complaints have been received with regards to the increase in tariffs to the Riverside west elevated car park in Bridgnorth. This car park is unique in that its use is restricted solely for off-street resident permit holders. This issue has been discussed with residents as part of the on-street residents parking review. An amendment to the strategy is recommended that will allow residents who hold on-street parking permits to also park within suitable car parks that are in the vicinity of on-street residents’ parking schemes without having to purchase an additional off-street permit.
Proposal 3 – That all loading bays across the county excluding shared use bays should operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Why? It is considered that provision for loading should always be available and that there is a need for consistency across the county in order to avoid confusion. It is therefore recommended that all loading bays within the highway across the county operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Proposal 4 – That when the number of on-street parking spaces available in any residents’ parking scheme is less than the number of properties, the on-street residents’ parking permit criteria be increased to two permits per property.
Why? During the review of residents’ parking schemes in Bridgnorth, it has become apparent that the new policy will only provide one permit rather than two in most existing and proposed schemes. This reduction is of primary concern to residents.Some residents have highlighted that not everyone within a scheme requires a permit, therefore there is potential for relaxation of the policy.Consideration also needs to be given to other highway users, vehicular access, other parking requirements for shoppers and visitors, as well as blue badge holders and access for deliveries etc.
Proposal 5 – To assist with the excessive demand for season tickets in some popular car parks – Innage Lane, Bridgnorth; Galdeford Zone B (Upper), Ludlow; Frankwell, Shrewsbury; Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury – it is proposed that the specified maximum number of resident permit and season ticket thresholds for all off street car parks are combined to give an overall maximum threshold for each car park.
Why? There are four car parks where season ticket issue has exceeded 90% of the maximum allocations determined by the current strategy and specified in the traffic regulation order (TRO): 1. Innage Lane, Bridgnorth; Galdeford Zone B (Upper), Ludlow; Frankwell, Shrewsbury; Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.
Proposal 6 – That annual permit concessions be provided for holiday let properties located within an on street residents’ parking scheme. Entitlement to be one digital permit per holiday let property at a cost of £100 per permit which is equivalent to the cost of a resident’s on street permit.
Why? A collective of tourist accommodation proprietors in Ludlow are requesting reinstatement of concessions to enable guests to be able to park near their accommodation within the Ludlow shared use pay and display/residents’ parking bays. It is recommended that consideration be given to an amendment of the strategy to allow the issue of annual permits at a cost equivalent to that of a resident’s on-street permit, ie. £100.
Proposal 7a – That the times of operation of the evening /overnight tariffs on Mondays to Saturdays in Raven Meadows multi storey car park, Shrewsbury are brought forward to by two hours to apply between the hours of 6pm and 8am.
Proposal 7b – That on Mondays to Saturdays in Raven Meadows multi-storey car park, Shrewsbury a two-hour rather than the existing three- hour tariff cap to the evening/overnight tariffs should apply.
Why? The opening hours in Raven Meadows multi-storey car park have been extended to 7am to midnight Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 10pm on Sundays and bank/public holidays. The charging hours in Raven Meadows multi-storey car park have been extended to 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a three-hour cap on the parking periods between the hours of 8pm to 8am. The decision to retain free parking within all pay and display parking areas in Shrewsbury from 6pm rather than 8pm was made as a revision to the original strategy, without adjustment to the Raven Meadows multi-storey car park proposals. This combined with the three-hour cap on parking from 8.00pm is resulting in a number of issues.
