Parking

Possible Restrictions in Future Parking Control Schemes

What a possible scheme could consist of:-

• Residents’ parking permits would be at a cost of £50, or £15 quarterly. The administration and enforcement costs are required to be met from the revenue raised from the sale of resident parking permits, business permits and pay and display charges.
• Residents’ visitor parking permits would be available for purchase by residents in advance, who would then pass the permit/s to their visitor.  The permits would be in the format of a scratchcard, whereby the driver would be able to uncover the required date and time period for subsequent display in their vehicle.  The cost would be £2 for each 6 hour period.
• Business parking permits, anticipated cost of £700 per year, as per other areas in the west end.
• Shared-use parking bays for residents, business, visitors and pay & display.
• Designated bays for disabled, motorcycles and loading.
• Pay & display with a maximum stay, possibly 3 hours.
• Times during which parking charges apply could be:
  Mon – Fri or Mon – Sun, 8am – 6pm or 8am – 10pm.
• The restrictions would also apply to lanes, including those that are privately maintained.

Questions Raised To Previous Schemes


Will the new parking bays be for residents only?

• No. Parking spaces will be designated as shared-use, i.e. anyone can use these bays providing they display a valid permit or blue badge or pay & display ticket. Blue badge holders can park for free and without limit of time if displaying their badge.

As a resident, will I be guaranteed a parking space outside my home?

• No.  However, as the removal of free parking is a deterrent to commuters, and pay & display parking encourages bay turnover, spaces should generally be available close by. It should be noted that a scheme drawn up in line with legislation will make it illegal to park obstructively in areas such as junctions, which, in turn, would reduce the number of vehicles which presently park in your area.

I also have problems parking in the evenings and weekends due to the number of pubs and restaurants in my area. Will parking controls help me?

• Yes. Parking controls may help you if they were extended to include evenings and weekends, as in other areas of the west end and the Garnethill area adjacent to the city centre.  This ensures that resident permit holders retain priority for on-street parking space at those times. Evening and weekend controls also stops residents from adjacent uncontrolled zones from parking in your zone and those in adjacent zones who avoid buying a permit or in the Hillhead area where only 1 permit is available per household.

I am a resident.  Who qualifies for a residents’ parking permit?

• If your flat is part of a new-build development built after 1 January 2000 then you would NOT qualify for a permit, as the developer would have been advised to provide off-street parking or market the properties as part of a ‘car-free’ development. However, if your flat is an older property or is part of a converted building, then you may qualify for a permit, as it is recognised that the limited space available for such developments often precludes the option to provide off-street parking.

I have a business in the area.  Would I qualify for a parking permit?

• As a business, you may qualify for a business permit.  Each area will have a limited number of business permits available.  The current cost of which, in other areas of the west end, is £700 per year.

We have one off-street parking space, but have two cars.  Could I still buy a residents’ parking permit?

• Yes, if your property qualifies.
  

We have 2 cars. Can we get more than 1 permit?

• This would be decided area by area. We would need to assess available parking and demand for spaces as we would not want to issue more permits than there are spaces.

In my opinion, parking controls are not required.  Would you then forget about promoting a scheme in my area?

• All residents who receive a questionnaire are urged to respond.  This will make public opinion clearer and allow the Council to understand the majority view.  These results, together with the results of an early stage survey, will determine if parking controls will benefit the area.  It should also be noted that some areas may be affected by motorists migrating in search of a free parking space.  To be left in an unrestricted area surrounded by other areas with parking controls may encourage commuters to park in your area.  This issue should be considered before responding to this consultation.

What happens after I return the questionnaire?

• The results of the questionnaire survey will give us an idea of where parking controls are most needed.  A technical survey will be conducted to determine specific requirements on-street to serve residents, visitors, shoppers and local business.  A full public consultation would then take place inviting comments from anyone who might be affected. 

Is there anything I can do to be involved in the process?

• Yes.  You can encourage your neighbours to fill in the questionnaire.  This would give us a clearer picture of the majority view of residents and businesses in the area.

What happens next?

• The results of the consultation will be analysed to determine the areas where residents are most in favour of parking controls. Local Councillors will then be briefed on the results of the consultation and agreement on the way forward will be reached. If it is decided that your area is given the go ahead for proposals, exhibitions will be set up to provide information on how a scheme could work in your area,   .  Only after this would the Council then advertise proposals to introduce parking controls.  This would be the start of the formal process and it would be at this stage that the wider public could object or support the proposals. 

When could a scheme be in my area?

• As there is no guarantee that a scheme would be implemented in any area due to the universal right of objection, and as the process described above can be a lengthy one, it is anticipated that the earliest that formal consultation for the first phase of schemes could commence would be winter of 2008. It may be that your area would not be in the first phase of schemes. Therefore you may have to wait for the next phase of consultation which would commence after implementation of the first phase of schemes.