Agenda item

The report summarises the consultation results for Holgate Central undertaken in February and determines what action is appropriate.

Resolved: 

That approval be given to advertise an amendment to the York Parking, Stopping and Waiting Traffic Regulation Order, to introduce a Residents’ Priority Parking Area, as outlined in Option 1 of the report as detailed below:

(a)     Advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order to extend the R60 Residents’ Priority Parking Area to operate Monday to Saturday as outlined on the plan at Annex F of the report (excluding private streets and St Paul’s Mews).

(b)     St Paul’s Mews to be reconsidered for inclusion in the scheme if further representations are made within a 18 month period from implementation of any neighbouring scheme.

(c)     The bays on Watson Street to be marked and signed individually to allow 2 hour parking for non-permit holders.

(d)     Advertise an amendment to the eligibility requirements of Commercial Permits to allow staff from St Paul’s Nursery School and St Paul’s CE Primary School to purchase permits to park.

Current Eligibility: “A person who, in the course of that person’s business or calling, is required to visit residential or business premises within a zone.” These are issued for use away from the normal place of work.  Recommended Addition: “Any staff member of an education establishment for 0 to 18 year olds that doesn’t have off street parking provision at the time the residents parking zone is implemented.”

(e)     Replace and add street name plates for Enfield Crescent and Wilton Rise to include wording “Private Street, Resident Parking Only”

Reason: To progress the majority views of the residents consulted and to take into consideration the needs of the schools and churches in the area

The Executive Member considered a report which provided details of the consultation results for Holgate Central undertaken in February 2017 and sought to determine what action was appropriate.

The Executive Member considered written representations from Councillor Sonja Crisp and Richard Knowles, Headteacher of St Paul’s C of E Primary School.

Councillor Sonja Crisp’s written representation expressed concerns regarding the issue of altering the current practice regarding eligibly for ResPark permits to include teachers and employees of schools such as St Paul’s Primary. While acknowledging sympathy for them, she noted the difficulties faced by residents in finding parking in streets near their own homes in this area. She expressed concerns that providing permits to as many as 25 school staff would push residents over into neighbouring streets which had no ResPark (despite having paid for ResPark themselves) and therefore causing problems elsewhere. She requested that if the decision was taken to allow school staff passes, that these be restricted to working hours so that staff were not able leave their cars there during evenings and weekends when parking spaces should be available for residents.

Richard Knowles, Headteacher of St Paul’s, advised that the school would support option 1, allowing the school to purchase a number of commercial permits which would allow the school’s staff and visitors to be able to park vehicles in the vicinity of the school. However he expressed concern that the proposed cost for a commercial permit,  which was higher than what they had been lead to believe, was excessive for St Paul’s to bear and asked that this be reviewed in light of their unique situation. On the understanding that these permits were not for a particular vehicle registration but for use by any staff member or visitor needing to park in the vicinity of the school, he advised that the school would require up to 20 transferable commercial permits.

The following 6 people addressed the meeting under public participation with regard to the consultation process:

Philip Hunter spoke on behalf of St Paul’s Church with regard to the effect the proposals would have on the church, located off St Paul’s Terrace. He advised the Executive Member that the area suffered from commuter parking by those who travelled from the rail station or who worked in town. He advised that there were only 3-4 spaces available for church users who were encouraged to car share or walk to the church. He expressed a preference for the restrictions to be time limited to allow those attending church services to park on street when needed.

Jenny Hartland, a resident of St Paul’s Terrace, spoke in support of the proposals. She advised that the streets were now used as a free car park for those using the city centre, rail station and those visiting the National Railway Museum with some using the streets for long term parking for up to a week at a time. She also noted an increase in the regularity of parcel deliveries which had led to a constant stream of delivery vehicles. She expressed sympathy with St Pauls Primary School and expressed a preference for a 24hrs/7 days per week restriction.

Malcolm Senne, spoke on behalf of York Spiritual Centre on Wilton Rise. He expressed a preference for a less restrictive scheme which would prevent city centre workers parking there (suggesting that 4am to 12 noon restriction would be sufficient to deter them) but which would allow residents to benefit from flexibility for themselves, their visitors and tradesmen. He advised that visitors to York Spiritual Centre were not able to use Park & Ride for the majority of events as Park and Ride closed early in the evening and the rail bridge, secluded access and steep steps prevented many from using the nearby pay car park.

David Nunns, a resident of Acomb, advised that the proposed scheme failed the 50% test in most parts of the area and should therefore not proceed as currently proposed. He stated that the recent Holgate Road scheme, with 90 minutes restriction, had removed some all-day parking in the street and made it easier to park for people visiting nearby businesses in Watson Street however he would not wish for Holgate Hill to be included in the Holgate Road Zone, due to its likely effect on the visitor parking. He applauded the creation of a few 2 hour spaces in Watson Street but advised that visitors to the two schools had similar problems to the school staff and suggested that the waiting time in Watson Street could increased to 60-90 minutes which would be more appropriate than the current 10 minutes. With regard to problems on Wilton Rise and the first part of Enfield Terrace he stated that the proposed signage would be misleading.

Nicholas Payne spoke in objection to the timings listed in the report. He confirmed that the main issue was one of commuter and shoppers parking, which could be removed with the introduction of daytime restrictions. He questioned the justification for a 24 hour scheme, advising that there were regularly a minimum of 25 available spaces in the evening. He requested that more attention be given to Wilton Rise and Enfield Crescent, acknowledging that there was already a problem on Wilton Rise which would be exacerbated with the introduction of the proposed restrictions, and asked the Executive Member to consider the incorporation of these streets in the scheme.

Councillor Mary Cannon, spoke as Ward Councillor in support of local residents. She advised that some residents felt that 24 hrs restrictions were not required although others had expressed problems parking in the evening. She asked that clarification be given around the use of blue badges in a residents parking zone. She requested a Sunday break in parking restrictions in order to allow for users of Holgate Community Gardens, St Paul’s Church and the Spiritual Centre and for community activities to take place. She expressed support for the 18 month trial period but asked the Executive Member to think seriously about the needs of the two schools.

The Executive Member considered the following options:

·   Option 1

Advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order to extend the R60 Residents’ Priority Parking Area to operate Monday to Saturday as outlined on the plan at Annex F (excluding private streets and St Paul’s Mews).

St Paul’s Mews to be reconsidered for inclusion in the scheme if further representations are made within a 18 month period from implementation of any neighbouring scheme. 

The bays on Watson Street to be marked and signed individually to allow 2 hour parking for non-permit holders.

Advertise an amendment to the eligibility requirements of Commercial Permits to allow staff from St Paul’s Nursery School and St Paul’s CE Primary School to purchase permits to park. Current Eligibility: “A person who, in the course of that person’s business or calling, is required to visit residential or business premises within a zone.” These are issued for use away from the normal place of work.  Recommended Addition: “Any staff member of an education establishment for 0 to 18 year olds that doesn’t have off street parking provision at the time the residents parking zone is implemented.”

Replace and add street name plates for Enfield Crescent and Wilton Rise to include wording “Private Street, Resident Parking Only”

·       Option 2, advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order as outlined in Option 1, a to e, but as a separate scheme.

·       Option 3, to advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order as outlined in Option 1, a, b, d & e; omitting part c (not providing for school staff).

·       Option 4, to advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order as outlined at Option One, a to e, with operational times of 24 hours, 7 days a week.

·       Option 5, to advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order as outlined at Option One, a to e, to operate 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

·       Option 6, to advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order as outlined at Option One, a to e, for the following streets only:  Watson Street Railway Terrace  St Paul’s Terrace  St Paul’s Square

·       Option 7, to take No Further Action at this time.  

Officers confirmed that in the same way that a special case had been made for parking by school staff through the allocation of commercial permits, and in response to concerns raised in relation to access to churches, the proposal had been modified to apply to Mondays to Saturdays only. As 24 hours had been expressed as a preference by most people, this would be stated in the formal advert period, but this could be reduced. They confirmed that blue badge holders could park for free without a permit.

The Executive Member expressed the view that the proposals provided a fair balance and were based on the responses of a wide network of consultees. He endorsed the relaxation of hours on Sundays to help churches and the decision to allow school staff to purchase permits.

Resolved: 

That approval be given to advertise an amendment to the York Parking, Stopping and Waiting Traffic Regulation Order, to introduce a Residents’ Priority Parking Area, as outlined in Option 1 of the report as detailed below:

(a)     Advertise an amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order to extend the R60 Residents’ Priority Parking Area to operate Monday to Saturday as outlined on the plan at Annex F of the report (excluding private streets and St Paul’s Mews).

(b)     St Paul’s Mews to be reconsidered for inclusion in the scheme if further representations are made within a 18 month period from implementation of any neighbouring scheme.

(c)     The bays on Watson Street to be marked and signed individually to allow 2 hour parking for non-permit holders.

(d)     Advertise an amendment to the eligibility requirements of Commercial Permits to allow staff from St Paul’s Nursery School and St Paul’s CE Primary School to purchase permits to park.

Current Eligibility: “A person who, in the course of that person’s business or calling, is required to visit residential or business premises within a zone.” These are issued for use away from the normal place of work.  Recommended Addition: “Any staff member of an education establishment for 0 to 18 year olds that doesn’t have off street parking provision at the time the residents parking zone is implemented.”

(e)     Replace and add street name plates for Enfield Crescent and Wilton Rise to include wording “Private Street, Resident Parking Only”

Reason: To progress the majority views of the residents consulted and to take into consideration the needs of the schools and churches in the area.