New service launching to help North Somerset residents access support
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North Somerset Council launches business support measures
Councillors say ‘thank you’
New service launching to help North Somerset residents access support
North Somerset Council launches business support measures
Councillors say ‘thank you’
Conservatives block plan for fairer resident parking
by mikebell on 5 April, 2017
Conservative Councillors blocked a proposal from Central Ward Councillor Mike Bell for action to address parking problems faced by people living in the town centre area at a council meeting last night.
Following the introduction of a pay and display parking zone in 2012, which significantly curtailed parking for hundreds of town centre residents, the council has now introduced civil parking enforcement (CPE).
Mike said: “Whilst CPE is a positive step, to tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking and bring back traffic wardens, it doesn’t help residents park near their homes. I’ve had reports from many people who have already been hit by parking fines in just the first couple of days.”
At a meeting of North Somerset Council held on Tuesday 4th April, councillors debated parking and Councillor Mike Bell proposed particular action to help town centre residents.
His proposals included:
- the provision of more off-street parking spaces for residents where that was practical, e.g. in new developments and in areas of high parking pressure;
- a cheaper resident parking permit for use in council-owned car parks, existing permits cost hundreds of pounds which is unfair on people who live here and pay council tax already;
- consideration of an on-street resident parking scheme for the town centre and areas of parking pressure.
Mike added: “The council has increased parking charges on-street and off-street, done absolutely nothing to help residents park affordably off-street in car parks, made the parking situation worse by granting planning permission for new homes and flats without necessary parking and introduced the pay and display zone without sparing a thought for people living in it.
“It’s been all one-way traffic, with the situation for residents getting harder whilst the council generates a small fortune in parking fees and fines. It’s time for a bit more compromise and a fairer deal for people living in the town centre area and around our parks and sea front.”
Councillor Bell’s proposal was backed by Liberal Democrat, Independent and Labour Councillors, but blocked by the Conservative majority.
Mike said: “I’ll continue to fight on this issue because the current situation is just not fair or right.”
5 Comments
nice to see some one speeking out about this horrendous peneltys we are living under. I am out of work at the moment due to health problems and I have to move my car well before the 9 o’clock dead line so as to find some were to park and that is normally by some ones property and not mine then move bk to my house after 1800 hrs .and the house prices in our rd have decreced in value by 25 per cent. now is that fair. would our Tory councelers do that where they live not in a million years . keep up the fight and roll on the next council elections .
well done!
I am very glad Mike Bell is fighting to sort out fairer residents parking. How do most other towns and cities manage residents permits but Weston cannot?
Resident parking permits how do we get this? What can we do to make this happen.I have parked outside my house for at least five years with no problems to traffic ..Not a major road cannot see why cannot park outside my own house and keep eye on car.At present no yellow line so parking restiction cannot legal be enforced. Surely thier most be a president set as I have parked for years with no complaints. I own the house outright for passed 30 years.Also own land behind Alfred street to be developed into car park but cannot understand the impossible planning permission administration and the fact you cannot talk to any planning officer and pay £400 per question.
Is there anything we can do to help. We live on the hillside and parking is a joke. Sometimes we darent go as there will be no where to park, but the car park round the corner is empty. Other towns and cities have residential parking only. It costs residents upto £150 a year. I wouldn’t mind paying that. Maybe a pation or residents don’t pay the parking fines. But something needs to be done.