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ITEM EX7

EXECUTIVE – 15 APRIL 2003

NORTH OXFORD RESIDENTS’ PARKING SCHEME

Report by Assistant Director (Network Management)

 

Introduction

  1. This report on the Summertown Residents’ Parking Scheme is submitted to the Executive, with the assent of the members of the Transport Implementation Committee, in view of the scale and complexity of the scheme. A total of 19 roads are included in the scheme with approximately 1100 properties and businesses being directly affected. A location plan showing the area covered by the scheme is attached.(download as .doc file)

  2. The objective of this scheme is to reduce uncontrolled on-street parking, particularly by commuters. Some of this parking was displaced by the introduction of residents’ parking schemes in Walton Manor and Norham Manor to the south. Implementation of the scheme is now made possible by the opening of the Water Eaton Park and Ride. It is estimated that some 350 commuter vehicles will be displaced by the new restrictions, most of which will use the new facility. The scheme is one of three new Residents’ Parking Schemes in the area: North Oxford, Summertown and North Summertown.

    3. Background

  3. Effective control of parking is seen as the key to the successful implementation of the Oxford Transport Strategy, the aim of which is to create major improvements in the environment. Part of this strategy can be achieved through restraint of long term non residential car parking. The North Oxford proposals need to be seen in the context of the existing city centre waiting and parking controls, the introduction of Controlled Parking Zones with residents’ parking in Norham Manor and Walton Manor (both south of North Oxford) and the proposed introduction of Controlled Parking Zones with permit parking in Summertown and North Summertown, to the north.

  4. Oxford City Council was originally responsible for the scheme, work on which commenced in 1994. Following an exhibition organised by the City Council in early 1996, formal public consultation on the scheme took place in the Autumn of that year. Many residents objected to the advertised and the City Council at the time resolved not to proceed with the proposals.

  5. The introduction of the new Norham Manor Controlled Parking Zone in 1999 displaced some parking to the proposed North Oxford zone. This caused residents problems in many streets and they requested that the previous proposals be implemented. However, further informal consultation in October 2000 again resulted in substantial objections. These were considered by the Oxford Highways and Traffic Committee in February 2001, following which further discussions were held with local councillors, schools and the residents’ associations. In the light of these discussions the scheme was redesigned ready for formal public consultation. However no further progress was made on the scheme before it was transferred to the County Council in November 2001 when the Oxford agency ended.

    6. Formal Consultation

  6. Formal public consultation took place from 11 January 2002 to 1 February 2002 and was based on the design shown on Drawing No 721/26403 (Rev G). Plans were on deposit at the City Council Offices in Blue Boar Street and at County Hall. Notices were posted in every road and were also advertised in the Oxford Times and Oxford Mail.

  7. / In outline, the proposals comprised the introduction of controlled parking and permit holder bays in the area of North Oxford. They included the provision of various short term parking bays for visitors, as well as permit holders, in all the residential streets within the zone, except for Banbury Road and Woodstock Road. Coach parking was also proposed in Belbroughton Road, Charlbury Road and Bardwell Road for school transport purposes. The timing of the proposed restrictions was from 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Saturday inclusive. Full details are set out in the consultation documents, a copy of which can be inspected in the Members’ Resource Centre. Drawing No 721/26403 (Rev G) will be on display at the meeting.

    8. Consultation Responses

  8. The proposals were generally well received by local residents with only minor modifications being requested in a number of roads (see Annex 1). (download as .doc file). However two major objections were received during the statutory consultation. The first, from the Oxford High School, concerns the location of one of the coach parking bays proposed on the northern side of Charlbury Road just to the east of the main school entrance. The other, from the owners of the Linton Lodge Hotel expressed concern about the adverse affect that the proposed parking controls could have on their conferencing facility and the potential loss of business. Copies of all the representations received are in the Members’ Resource Centre.

  9. The coach parking bay in Charlbury Road outside Oxford High School does give rise to concerns about road safety. The main concern is the conflict between coaches and school children at the northeast end of the road. Many pupils use the prescribed cycle route that runs down the length of Charlbury Road from Marston Ferry Road.

  10. There is also the question of turning movements and the lack of a suitable turning area for any coaches using this bay. To counter these problems it is now proposed that the coach parking bay should be repositioned in two locations either side of the Linton Road junction located further down at the southern end of Charlbury Road, were the road is straighter and wider. This new location would not be outside any residential property frontages.

  11. The problems for the Linton Lodge Hotel arise because conference delegates tend to arrive individually by car and the hotel’s off street parking facility cannot accommodate all of this demand. At a meeting with members on 26 February 2003, held at Speedwell House, it was agreed in principle to provide conference delegates with parking permits which would be issued to the hotel. This would entitle a delegate to park in a ‘permit holders only’ parking bay for one day only. It is proposed that the cost of such permits would be set at £1 each and sold in books of 50 to cover printing costs.

  12. In principle these permits would be available to any other hotel within the zone although I do not believe that these hotels would wish to use this scheme. There would be no limit on how many of these permits a hotel may apply for. It is proposed that a register of users would be kept by the hotel so that checks could be made on the issue of permits. This would stop the hotel from using the permits for residents or staff.

  13. There have been objections to such a proposal during previous consultations, mostly from residents’ associations. Their concern was that such a permit scheme would be difficult to control or manage and could be subject to possible abuse. The Linton Lodge Hotel for its part has said that it would encourage delegates to car share thus reducing the impact of such a scheme on the local community.

  14. Some short term parking bays shown on the consultative proposals would block residents’ driveways. In such cases ‘No waiting at Any Time’ markings will need to be introduced at these locations. However where permit holder spaces block accesses, "community managed" access protection T-bar markings can be introduced so as to maximise on street parking spaces for residents. The community management system allows permit holder bays to be formed on-street, across driveways and would allow residents or neighbours to park there if they wished. However it is possible that that this could give rise to obstruction problems by visitors to the zone, especially outside the permit restriction periods and where roads are already heavily parked.

  15. The consultation process showed that residents were satisfied with the proposed permit restriction times. Therefore the zone will restrict parking between 8.00 am and 6.30 pm.

  16. The Residents’ Parking Permit Scheme will enable qualifying residents to park in "permit holders only" parking places and, without time limit, in some of the time limited general public parking places. There will be no charge for these permits. This is as previously advertised. No limit is proposed on the number of permits residents can apply for within the zone.

  17. Special arrangements will also apply for Diamond Court, Moreton Road. The maximum number of residents’ parking permits available for dwellings there will be three permits if the dwelling possesses no off street parking, two permits if the dwelling possesses one parking space, one permit if the dwelling possesses two parking spaces and no permits if the dwelling possesses three or more parking spaces. This was as previously advertised.

  18. The Visitor Permit Parking Scheme will enable residents’ visitors to park in permit holders only parking places and without time limit in some of the time limited general public parking places. Residents’ visitors’ permits will be limited to 50 permits per resident per 12 month period. There will be no charge for these permits. This was as previously advertised.

  19. Again, special arrangements will apply for Diamond Court. The maximum number of visitor permits available for dwellings there will be 150 days worth if the dwelling possess no off street parking, 100 days worth if the dwelling possesses one parking space and 50 days worth if the dwelling possesses two or more parking spaces. This was also as previously advertised.

  20. The Hotel and Guest House Permit Scheme will allow guests at these establishment in the zone to park in permit holders only parking places. A charge of £1 per permit is proposed There will be no limit on how many of these permits a hotel or guest house may apply for. Permits will be valid for one day only. This was as previously advertised.

  21. No changes are proposed to the previously advertised Business Parking Permit Scheme. This would enable vehicles of businesses occupying premises in the zone and displaying a business permit, to park in permit holders only parking places. A charge of £25 per quarter year per permit is proposed. Business permits will be limited to a maximum of two per business where that business has got insufficient off street parking car parking space either at the business or nearby. Special arrangements will apply for schools and colleges in the area.

  22. Similarly no changes are proposed to the previously advertised Schools and Colleges Permit Scheme. This would allow most schools and colleges in the zone to apply for up to 20 residents’ parking permits and 20 business permits. They will need to supply proof of eligibility for residents’ parking permits. These allocations will be reduced to a maximum of two each over a period of 4 years. Vehicles displaying these permits will be able to park in the permit holders only places and without time limit in some of the time limited general public parking places.

  23. The variations in relation to the coach parking bay in Charlbury Road outside Oxford High School and the permit arrangements for the Linton Lodge Hotel are considered to be a substantial modification to what was initially advertised back in January 2002. These revisions would need to be subject to further formal consultation. Since a number of detailed changes are also needed to reflect minor changes in road layout since the proposals were published, it is considered that the proposals should be advertised afresh, together with a new draft traffic order for public comment.

    24. Environmental Implications

  24. This scheme will make a direct contribution in reducing traffic congestion within the vicinity of North Oxford. It is expected that many commuters would change their parking patterns and mode of travel from car to the Water Eaton Park and Ride, and in some cases change their travel mode altogether.

  25. The most obvious benefit will be the reduction in parking congestion within the zone, which should improve the quality of life for residents. Road safety should be improved which will benefit the children attending the many schools in the area. There would also be a reduction in vehicle emissions and the scheme would contribute towards the Council’s policy on sustainability.

  26. There would be some environmental impact in residential streets due to the necessary signing that would have to be erected. Road markings would also have to be laid to define parking areas and the extent of waiting restrictions. The recent changes in the new Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 Act mean that No Waiting at Any Time road marking no longer requires supplementary signing to be enforceable.

    27. Financial and Staff Implications

  27. The estimated cost of the scheme is £90,000 and is included in the Capital Programme. Operation of the scheme would be funded from within the on-street parking account.

  28. Business parking permits would generate an estimated income in the region of £10,000 pa. Based on previous experience in other zones, this new zone would generate on street parking penalties of £73,000. The net cost of operating the scheme including enforcement by Control Plus, who would need to employ additional staff, is estimated to be £24,000. This would be a charge on the on–street parking account. The increased use of commuters of the Water Eaton Park and Ride is estimated to attract an additional income of £55,000 pa.

    29. RECOMMENDATIONS

  29. The Executive is RECOMMENDED:

          1. not to proceed with the original proposals advertised between 11 January 2002 and 1 February 2002;

          2. to authorise the Director for Environment & Economy to publish a draft order for the current North Oxford Residents’ Parking Scheme proposals as indicated on Drawing No 721/26403 Rev G, subject as set out in paragraphs 9 et seq of the report.

RICHARD DIX
Assistant Director (Network Management)

Background Papers: Responses to consultation.

Contact Officer: Richard Kingshott Tel 01865 815716, Charlie Bevan Tel 01865 815650

April 2003.

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