Hi all,
I have recently got a letter through the door with my local authority proposing the introduction of a new residents' permit scheme on my estate.
They have previously consulted on the matter last year by post and email, received a 16% response rate of 50/50 in favour/opposing split and so didn't continue. Then a few weeks ago another consultation letter arrived in the post, but this time inviting responses via a QR code leading to a Microsoft forms form. The response rate to this consultation exercise was apparently 89% with 86% percent of responses in favour of the scheme. Notably the Microsoft form didn't require any validation, name to be given etc etc. One response was allowed per address within the affected area, and I'm not aware of how double submissions from one address were treated etc. Without wanting to speculate, I have suspicions that some eager folks on the wider estate may have submitted more than one form, or somesuch deception. This is especially since having talked to my neighbours they seem broadly in agreement against the scheme.
From what I gather, at the moment the scheme to introduce the TRO to enable the scheme is in preliminary consultation, and the statutory process has not yet begun.
The steps I have taken so far are:
I have written a leaflet detailing issues raised when speaking with neighbours in opposition to the scheme, detailing the rationale behind opposing the scheme, listing the traffic management department contacts and councillors to contact to express concerns. I will later today drop it through neighbours' doors. The leaflet also includes a link to an online form where responses can be entered.
I have sent an email to the traffic management person in charge of consulting the scheme at the council detailing the objections.
I will later send emails to the appropriate councillors for the area.
Briefly, my and a few other neighbours objections to the scheme are:
- Cost - £60 per car, where the parking was always free, especially as there doesn't seem to be a need on the estate for the scheme.
- The estate consists of adopted and unadopted roads,as well as parking spaces held as a freehold by the house owners. the council can't enforce on non-adopted sections, there may be fines issued in error to residents parked where a permit isn't required, likewise if someone was to park in an unadopted section or assigned parking space and force the residents to park elsewhere where a permit is required. In general, it seems like an administrative headache.
- The scheme doesn't seem to be required, parking on the estate isn't problematic, when it does get busy it seems to be from visitors to properties within the estate rather then external visitor.
- The council is justifying the need for the scheme as due to parking pressures from a temporary hospital car park that opened a few months ago. The car park is due to close in the autumn once a new multi-storey at the hospital is completed. It doesn't seem sensible to me to introduce a TRO for the whole estate due to a temporary car park that will more than likely be closing by the time the TRO is coming into force.
If the case was that the vast majority on the estate want the scheme, and I was the odd one out then so be it, but it seems more than suspicious to me.
I would be grateful for any tips, pointers and thoughts as to the best way to proceed as the scheme progresses. Are there any particular statutory points to keep in mind?
Many thanks in advance!
