Topic ID 342
I believe tomm night (Thurs), there is a meeting in the Corn Exchange to discuss the parking issues on these streets with a view to residents permits being installed (chap from the council is fielding questions etc). This is due to parking problems resulting from narrow streets, shoppers trying to save money on parking and commuters using Hertford East station. Would be interested to hear how it goes and/or any feedback etc
Reply ID 2451
If they go ahead with a residents parking scheme for these roads it will only mean people will park in other roads further away. No doubt the residents would have to pay for the permits to cover the admin for the scheme too. Having said that I sympathise with the problems the residents must have and for these reasons alone I'd never buy a house in these roads. What a nightmare if you've got shopping and kids to unload.[:(]
Reply ID 2452
The Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) on Folly Island is very close to becoming a reality. There are still some areas up for discussion, not least the cost. It is said to be about £25 per house per car (note - one car per house). A few years ago it was being suggested that if more streets such as Viliers St etc were drawn into a scheme then costs could be reduced. As it is, Folly Island and possibly West Street is seen as a pilot to see what exactly the knock on effects will be elsewhere in the town centre. I have said in a report which is occassionally quoted in certain circles that this will inevitably make other areas worse as drivers used to parking for free on the Island will seek out other such places. Eventually everyone will have to pay to park. I am also hearing dire news about decriminalisation and what it will mean to the town centre. It is not good news but once i get everything confirmed will start a new thread.
Reply ID 2453
Out of curosity.., where are the houses with 2 cars on Folly Island going to park the 2nd car I wonder....
Reply ID 2455
Residents Parking Schemes - Frequently Asked Questions http://www.eastherts.gov.uk/council/car%20parking%20faqs.htm
Reply ID 2458
We spent 3 years fighting a residents parking scheme in South London a few years ago - In my experience, the council will win in the end. In our case, they sent out questionnaires with increasingly limited answers until they got the answer required. (Ended up with something like "Do you want residents parking: Yes/Don't mind"). If Mill Road/Mead Lane is developed as planned, and more people use Hertford East car park (It used to be almost empty every day - now it's full most days) there will certainly be more pressure on the roads mentioned for parking spaces. The planned closing of Baker Street car park will also add even more problems. So, can see why the council are concerned about this. Will be interesting to hear if the council propose to do anything to help non residents in terms of parking if they do impose residents parking.
Reply ID 2467
The solution on Folly island in answer to Frenchie is a delicately balanced one. There is free parking avaliable in the car park behind Folly/Thornton Street but only if you have a permit for daytime Mon-Fri. The offered solution is space on Hartham which has been continuously refused owing to security issues but with plans to redesign the whole area as one car park and CCTV going in next year with improved lighting it is becoming difficult to argue against this offer. Two car, even three car households are going to have a problem; which has yet to be discussed with Council, despite decrim being set for Jan 17. As for non-residents in town. There was a survey done some years back which found that the majority of long stay parking spaces are taken up by commuters, not visitors/shoppers/workers in the town centre. There are many schemes up and down the country where town centre residents get concessions in Council car parks but with East Herts set on Pay and Display I can't see this being introduced yet. Basically there are not enough parking spaces in the town centre and the policy from County is to return the streets to the residents which means more RPZ's and fewer spaces for anyone else. I believe that this is part of the policy to return us all to public transport - being the festive season - Ho! Ho! Ho!
Reply ID 2468
I'm sure it's not that long ago (OK maybe five years) that the council did a survey and decided that a RPZ in Villiers/Townsend wouldn't help! Parking is only possible on one side of these two roads, so there is only enough room for one car for every two houses at best. Overspill was going on to Railway Street, but this was not a problem as station/town parkers were there during the day, residents at night. Wonder what has changed to make the council think again. Have the residents requested action? Or is it just the attraction of lots of £25 parking permits...
Reply ID 2471
What i believe happens is that as the 'authorised' parking side of these streets empty when the residents leave for work, the commuters arrive trying to park near the station and leave the cars there all day. With wardens arriving shortly, this will mean during the enforcable daytime, residents can't find anywhere to legally park because of commuters (I counted 6 commuters getting into there cars from the station yday from 1 train). Also Railway street would become an overflow for residents..not a parking lot for commuters. This should change/help with permits.....in theory...
Reply ID 2473
The consultants/Council have a get out clause regarding some streets in as much as if there is no residents association they have to consult with each single resident which usually leaves a lot of room for manouevre - even a chance to go away. Council have accepted that there is a problem but none too sure of its solution. Hence the rush to get Folly Island in place which is also going to impact on town centre traffic flow. The original suggestion to include about 6 town centre hot spots was proposed by Mouchel TSC who were then the consultants as this would enable the overall charge to be set at £25 - £40 as opposed to a stand alone charge of about £250 per household. Ministry of Fear and Alarm!! Villiers Street and Church Street were part of that package. But then along came Decriminalisation which caught Council completely unawares.[;)]
Reply ID 2593
Beware!! Controlled Parking Zones are a con-trick. The council will at best allocate about three-quarters of available roadside space for parking bays, the rest being double-yellowed. Over-selling of permits is normal practice too, meaning that there's every possibility that, having paid your dosh, you still won't find a place to park. Worse, you may actually have to park illegally, if the nearest available space is in a different 'zone'. Of course all ths is a real money-spinner if you've got de-criminalised parking offences and the council keeps the fines. Is it any coincidence that Councils are almost invariably obsessed with forcing these schemes on us???
Reply ID 2594
And why meter the roads, as has been suggested? I can understand the need to charge for multi-storey car parks. They have to be controleld and maintained. But the street? It's just a money making excercise and I'm offended that the council believe we are sufficiently gullible to believe nonsense about improving parking.
Reply ID 2604
quote:I understand the residents fee is going to be about 25 pounds per property (only 1 permit allocated per property), surely this can only just cover the admin and new sign costs, not a money making venture. Or am i gullible.....
Originally posted by Mike
Beware!! Controlled Parking Zones are a con-trick. The council will at best allocate about three-quarters of available roadside space for parking bays, the rest being double-yellowed. Over-selling of permits is normal practice too, meaning that there's every possibility that, having paid your dosh, you still won't find a place to park. Worse, you may actually have to park illegally, if the nearest available space is in a different 'zone'. Of course all ths is a real money-spinner if you've got de-criminalised parking offences and the council keeps the fines. Is it any coincidence that Councils are almost invariably obsessed with forcing these schemes on us???
Reply ID 2605
so it starts off at £25 - I remember when car parking in Hertford was only 25p for 2 hours and Ware was only 10p - before that the car parks in Ware were free. In london they charge £100 per permit in places
Reply ID 2608
The situation on Folly Island, which is a sort of benchmark for all residents parking issues, was that any scheme must be non-profit making. The £25 fee is just part of the revenue collecting issue as I understand that an outside agency has now been appointed to do the warden bit. And £25 is not set in stone - just a suggested figure. So far! Understand that parking permit in the Port Vale car park is much more costly.
Reply ID 2970
Belatedly having read this debate / moan, it's apparent that there's a lot of misinformation and mistrust of local council's motives. Being a resident of the area in question, what is fact is that there are too few parking spaces for residents, and with shoppers, commuters and town workers occupying spaces in addition the problem is multipled. Resident parking proposals which in my opinion are very necessary will not come in for at least another 9 to 12 months and that's after consultation. Each household will get the first permit for £25 and a second for £50 if necessary/required. Yes if a hosehold has 3 cars this will be an issued but 3 car households are rare and very unnecessary in this location. From January 17th Parking enforcement will begin with fines of £60 (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days), so this means that any infringement will be jumped upon. Unlined Spaces will be at a preminium. Overspill from shoppers and town workers will flood the area after resident permits in Folly island and West Street are enforced. Therefore it is VERY necessary to have Resident parking in Villiers Street/Townsend Street/Railway Street. I expect that tension and conflict over parking will boil up in the New Year and you will see stories and comments flowing in.
Reply ID 2973
This doesn't really concern any of you but i'll add it anyway due to the rediculous nature of it and the fact that it is on topic. Unfortunatly we live in a flat at the moment (we are young!) the flats have private parking areas for each block in different places either opposite or next to the building. When I moved in (July this year) my landlord and lettings agency assured me that parking was not a problem and that I could park in any space. Now there is a car park opposite my flat which I have a fairly good view of, so I have chosen to park there as its nice to be able to see the car rather than having it parked round the corner. Last week a lady approached my girlfriend as she was getting out of the car, she had a lot of attitude and immediatly intimidated my girlfrined asking her what flat we lived in and telling her that we were not allowed to park where we had been. By this point I was out of the car and so took over the conversation. I attempted to explain to this lady what I have just said about the landlord etc... She was having none of it apparently I was in the wrong car park and stopping her friend (who incidently does not have a car) from parking! I was told that I will be clamped if I continue (there are no clamping signs so look forward to that happening) I would get to my point but I dont really have one, purely that I was very surprised to find that sort of attitude and intimidation in what I thought was a nice quiet friendly residential street and that people can get very worked up over parking situations that can often be sorted simply. For example could this lady have politely approached me as the driver and politely explained to me that I shouldn't be parking in that space and ask me to use another space? Can possibly the different car parks in the town be targetted/sign posted towards different groups of people i.e commuters/shoppers/residents. has it been done before?
Reply ID 2974
oh just to add this lady told me she was a director of the company that looks after the flats or something like that. Also I am now parking elsewhere to avoid hassle, what she also doesn't know is I currently have two cars, as there is now allocated spaces by flat number - 1 per flat, i feel shortly another conversation will take place!
Reply ID 4915
quote:Bumping this thread as Folly Island will soon become a battle zone. The carpark behind the houses (Meyer (?)) is due to close 1st of March. Think I may bail out and sell the car now!
I expect that tension and conflict over parking will boil up in the New Year and you will see stories and comments flowing in.
Reply ID 4916
quote:And it will get even worse if they develop on the car park land.
Originally posted by Sargassoquote:Bumping this thread as Folly Island will soon become a battle zone. The carpark behind the houses (Meyer (?)) is due to close 1st of March. Think I may bail out and sell the car now!
I expect that tension and conflict over parking will boil up in the New Year and you will see stories and comments flowing in.
Reply ID 4917
As an ex-long-term resident of Talbot Street Plod is right when he mentions 5 years ago a survey of residents was asked, I filled it in and it was a resounding No... Nothing has changed, just as Plod says, they love a money making scheme as the Government is not giving as much to Shire counties and I reckon they just see us all as cash cows.. or heffers as the case maybe. Once you get them, you'll find your life will never be the same and forget having friends to stay...Just a nightmare..
Reply ID 5067
quote:I see your point Mike, but look at it from the ladies point of view. She probably has to have a word with loads of people every day. Eventually, patience goes out the window. The key point is, whether people should be allowed to park there or not. I found having a "rotweiller" person on site always helped parking when I was in a flat. You are not in Bluecoats are you!?!?! [:)]
Originally posted by 01-mike
This doesn't really concern any of you but i'll add it anyway due to the rediculous nature of it and the fact that it is on topic. Unfortunatly we live in a flat at the moment (we are young!) the flats have private parking areas for each block in different places either opposite or next to the building. When I moved in (July this year) my landlord and lettings agency assured me that parking was not a problem and that I could park in any space. Now there is a car park opposite my flat which I have a fairly good view of, so I have chosen to park there as its nice to be able to see the car rather than having it parked round the corner. Last week a lady approached my girlfriend as she was getting out of the car, she had a lot of attitude and immediatly intimidated my girlfrined asking her what flat we lived in and telling her that we were not allowed to park where we had been. By this point I was out of the car and so took over the conversation. I attempted to explain to this lady what I have just said about the landlord etc... She was having none of it apparently I was in the wrong car park and stopping her friend (who incidently does not have a car) from parking! I was told that I will be clamped if I continue (there are no clamping signs so look forward to that happening) I would get to my point but I dont really have one, purely that I was very surprised to find that sort of attitude and intimidation in what I thought was a nice quiet friendly residential street and that people can get very worked up over parking situations that can often be sorted simply. For example could this lady have politely approached me as the driver and politely explained to me that I shouldn't be parking in that space and ask me to use another space? Can possibly the different car parks in the town be targetted/sign posted towards different groups of people i.e commuters/shoppers/residents. has it been done before?