New resident parking schemes for the Hanover & Elm Grove and Craven Vale areas of the city could begin in early October, if agreed by the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee.
Originally almost 60% of those who responded to the consultation* were in favour of a scheme in Hanover & Elm Grove, and just over 65% wanted one in Craven Vale. The recent Traffic Regulation Order consultation stage allowed members of the public the opportunity to comment on the detailed design of the parking schemes.
Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the committee, said: “The consultations have highlighted the differing views of residents and we have significantly amended the Hanover & Elm Grove scheme to take account of what people have said.
“Overall there has been solid support for both schemes amongst the majority of residents, and a higher than average number took part in the Hanover & Elm Grove consultation. Now we need to get on with implementing the schemes. We will review how they are working and amend if necessary and will accommodate additional amendments during the implementation stage – these would be advertised for further comment.”
The schemes were drawn up in response to residents concerned about congestion and access to properties.
Following an extensive three-stage consultation, the proposals are for a residents’ parking scheme Monday to Sunday 9am-8pm in the area south of Elm Grove and streets in the North West section of the area, with the remainder having a new ‘light touch’ scheme for two periods during the day Monday to Friday: 11am-12 noon and 6-7pm.
In Craven Vale the proposal is to create residents’ parking Monday to Sunday, 9am-8pm.
In response to concerns from businesses the council will introduce a pilot allowing them to buy up to 50 visitor permits annually in addition to two business permits if eligible.
These are also the first parking schemes to consider installing electric charging point bays and a Bike Share hub.
All of the schemes would be reviewed after a year to 18 months.
Councillors will decide whether to go ahead with the parking schemes at the next environment committee on 27th June. The report can be found here.
The council is not addressing people’s concerns. For example they intend to make some rods completely double yellow lines for no discernable reason. the fire brigade have said they can make it down those streets fine, as they have done for the last forty years, (one given reason) and though there are small areas where people park on the pavement – that does not explain why they don’t just make those areas double yellow rather than entire streets. It will cause havoc, mean there are not enough parking places to go round (though having to pay a ridiculous price for them) and it will also be massively isolating and trapping more of the disabled and elderly. This city is a laughing stock for its over priced badly implemented parking. There are never enough parking metered places in each street so people cannot have visitors! Then there are huge tracts of residents left unoccupied. there are far too few visitors permits available. One visitor a week is not enough if you are elderly and disabled and cannot get out you are ensuring the vulnerable are left without support. Seriously Brighton Council – go and get some advice from other cities who have far better schemes at lower costs that do not leave people in such impossible situations. Stoke-on-Trent for example – £70/ year and a scheme that works for people.
Brighton receives nine million visitors a year, trust me Stoke does not
Harold, so what? Is it an excuse to take something off people without offering a good solution? London has far more visitors, and you can buy ten visitors books PER MONTH.
Enia – the people who live there voted for this scheme. Should that not count for something?
Ashley, the people there are stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Council(whoever has been in power) has been trying to implement the parking controls for many years, and now, largely because all around have CPZs, this has more or less been forced on Hanover residents. They will lose so many parking spaces things will get very difficult indeed.
There are many places where parking is managed far better; for example, Bristol. Bristol is, in many ways, similar to Brighton. Bristol reidents pay around £50 per permit (with around £100 for a second permit in one household), they are given 50 FREE visitors’ permits every year, with the option of buying 50 more for £1 each. All visitors’ permits in B and H cost £3 each, and we are limited to 50 per year, as I expect you know. And most areas of London have far more sensible parking regulations which for example only operate for a few hours a day, or finish at 6pm or 6.30pm, so much better than 8pm, which is the time across all of Brighton’s residential areas; this causes real difficulties for friends visiting in the evening/coming for dinner/book clubs etc etc. Enia, people did not vote for the low allocation of visitors permits – it is just something the residents have to accept as part of the Council’s terrible parking policy.
As a Hanover resident I am so incredibly pleased with the new permit scheme.
Yes it’s not perfect and adjustments could be made but it is far better than what is currently in place in the area.
I am never able to park on my road or anywhere near it, ever. You can also forget trying to find parking at night on a weekend.
I frequently find Brighton weekend visitors parking on Hanover streets for the whole weekend as well as frequent commuters who park in the area.
You also find that due to cars parking on both sides of the street and them being so narrow you can be waiting ages to exit a street.
I have lived in Zone Y before this and can honestly say that parking is significantly worse in Hanover.
This is a residential area and should be kept as such. If it means having permits to limit unwanted visitors, great!