Calls to scrap new Cheltenham parking restrictions amid fears it will put off more shoppers
There are calls for new parking restrictions in Cheltenham to be scrapped amid concerns it is a “flawed solution for a non-existent problem”. Gloucestershire County Council’s proposals to introduce parking zone 16 has been blasted by residents.
A new zone 16 is being created as part of a review of the controversial zone 15 in the north east of the town. The new proposals would mean that residents would have to park in marked parking bays which are signed for their use.
There would also be a maximum stay in parking bays of four hours for non-residents during its operational time. Outside of operational hours, vehicles may park on single yellow lines, if it is safe to do so.
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However residents say that the scheme is unnecessary. Zone 16 would cover Hewlett Road from Brighton Road to Hales Road, Pittville Court, Pittville Circus Road and All Saints Road.
And they fear it will dissuade shoppers from visiting Cheltenham. Town resident Michael Bloxham said the review failed to meet the expectations of residents.
He says this because the cost of permits, limit on number per household and restrictions on the number of visitors. Residents question whether they actually want and need the parking scheme and it fails to address the issue of cars being displaced into the surrounding areas, particularly the far side of Hales Road.
Mr Bloxham says the creation of a smaller Z15 combining the historic permit parking areas with the addition of the area around Leighton Road and Duke Street makes sense. If GCC had done this originally it would have been accepted by the residents avoiding all of the waste of public money and council time that this process has incurred, he added.
However, he says consensus from residents is that the new zone 16 is not required or wanted by the residents. “Zone 16 is a flawed solution for a non-existent issue. It does not even meet GCC own criteria for a permit Zone, they have ignored their own policy in their imposition of this scheme," he said.
“GCC have failed to comply with their own policies in the pursuit of imposing the zones, they will claim it is to avoid displacement of cars but logically the bigger a zone more cars are displaced. It’s a self-defeating policy.
"The move to a control parking zone (CPZ) will lead to a loss of more than 100 parking spaces, far more stringent controls including not being able to park across your own drive This is not being made clear to residents, if its implemented the backlash will be a tsunami compared to the backlash of the last couple of years.
“How does losing more than 100 parking spaces improve parking for residents?”
Mr Bloxham also said the survey was biased towards the continuation of the zones its fails to address the core questions. He also says the parking restrictions are dissuading shoppers from going to Cheltenham.
And believes the situation will only become worse with the North Place development taking out a large car park and 70 new flats without parking. “The project at the moment is failing to address the core objections from the residents- these objections are why we are having this review.
“The new Z15 is logical but needs more thought on its boundaries, the CPZ concept needs to be ditched. The new zone 16 needs to be scrapped as it is not wanted or required by residents, and it does not meet GCC own criteria for a zone.”
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said they will analyse all of the feedback of the survey which concludes on September 27. “We are encouraging residents to give their feedback on the proposals as part of the engagement process we are carrying out.
“To have your say, please complete the survey online before the deadline of midnight on September 27, 2024. All feedback will be analysed and considered when creating final proposal plans.
“We want to ensure we get this process right so please take part in the survey and let us know what you think, so we can provide an improved scheme for all residents.”