Parking

A Resident’s Parking Scheme for Oldfield Ward?

The lack of parking is a national problem. Many of our communities were built before cars were invented or were never planned for people to own cars. In most of Oldfield Ward there is less than one on-street parking space per household.

We know that some, but not all residents would like to see a resident’s parking scheme (RPS) introduced.

Recent History

The Council conducted a formal survey of local households in 2001, 2007 and 2012 asking if residents wanted RPSs introduced which would operate on a similar basis to others already existing in the City.

  • In all three years, the community’s response was mixed – with about 50% in favour, 50% opposed.

It should be noted that householders who live closer to the existing RPSs (active in Lower Oldfield Park / Brougham Hayes) were more in favour – those who live further away from existing schemes towards Linear Park) were more opposed.

Why are people in favour of RPSs?

Why are people opposed to RPSs?

There are generally three reasons:

  • They don’t have a problem (i.e They have their own off road parking or don’t have a car)
  • There isn’t a problem in their street
  • They don’t want to pay for the scheme

What are our current and future parking pressures?

  • Housing at Western Riverside and the former Bath Press site is being built with less than one parking space per household. There is a risk that people living in the Western Riverside could park in Oldfield Park and walk to their home.
  • Existing homes in multiple occupation having additional bedrooms added.
  • An increase of commuter parking as a result of planned increase in frequency of trains stopping at Oldfield Park Station.

How would a scheme work?

  • The Council does not like to introduce single street RPSs. This is because it just transfers a parking problem from one street to an adjacent one.
  • A RPS scheme would cover a large area – Probably all the terraced houses between existing RPS Zone 5 – as far south and west as the Linear Park.
  • We would insist any scheme would be adapted to allow shoppers to park for the Moorland Road district centre and to consider the business employees who often park in the surrounding streets.
  • Please be aware that the Council is not legally permitted to make a profit from operating any on-street RPS – and that without enforcement officers to issue tickets the RPSs don’t work!

Where are we now?

  • The Council’s Position

The Council issued two explanatory documents in 2013; The Purpose of Residents Parking Schemes and Guidance on the Introduction of Residents Parking Schemes which explain the formal position.

  • The Community’s Position

There has been an increase in residents requesting a new parking survey over the past 12 months. Both Will and Shaun encourage debate about a residents parking scheme in Oldfield Ward and will continue lobby the Council for a new formal survey and to monitor for any significant changes in the community’s opinion.

If you would like to have your say, please add your comments to this story or email us.

Notes :

  • This version published (16/03/2018) represents a complete review of the Parking situation in Oldfield Ward.
  • This page is an update of one first published in October 2012, subsequently updated in December 2012 and September 2013.
  • Public comments 1 – 6 are unedited and as posted on the dates shown. As a result, the public comments may not fully correspond to the current content of this page.

 

 

9 thoughts on “Parking

  1. Chris Wilford says:

    Residents parking for Brook Road is essential. We are a car park for the station. Each house that is sold is turned into a HMO, bring 2/3 more cars.

  2. S Keane says:

    Residents’ parking only seems to apply during the day….when many of us are not parked at home. It’s the evenings when you need the restrictions…..or have I misunderstood?

  3. Jenny Morris says:

    West Avenue and Cynthia Road are also parking plots for the station and HMOs. It may cost us, but some restrictions are essential in this area.

  4. Pete Clinick says:

    S Keane is correct, permits are only for the daytime,in fact as lots of us live close to Moorland Road there would be a 2hour parking limit for shoppers[as one of our councilors informed me].
    So the permit would cover 8am to 6pm for residents with the 2 hours at each end, therefore permit is for 6hours a day,if you use your car to go to work,leave before 8-10am and back after 4pm the only days the permit is of any consequence is Saturday and Sunday.Add to this halfterms[easier to park] and
    the price,[which inevitably will only increase in the future],
    is too much to pay.SHOULD BE FREE TO COUNCIL TAX PAYERS!!!

  5. Jim Warren says:

    The problem with residents parking schemes is that once you say Yes, you are stuck with it, whatever the outcome in practice, and whatever the price goes up to, you will be stuck with it. This is the third time Oldfield Park has been asked, because it said No. Nowhere else in Bath has been given the opportunity to say whether they still want it, so once you say Yes, it will be Yes for life.
    Then there is the practicalities. The road markings don’t just mark out resident spaces, they mark out time limited spaces for visitors and they mark out with yellow lines any dropped kerbs and turning spaces. The net effect is that there will be a significant reduction in the number of on-street spaces, which are already in short supply. If you have a garage or front garden parking, there will be yellow lines in front of your house, so you can’t then park outside your own house without risking a parking fine.
    For most people, commuters are useful. You go to work and a commuter parks in your space. You return from work about the time that a commuter leaves and you get a space somewhere near your house. Between the commuting hours, the people who park are tradesmen’s vans (who will continue to take up spaces, regardless), visitors (who in future will have to be paid for by the people being visited), shoppers (who help to keep our local shops in business) and – near me at least – patients for doctors and dentists (who often have a blue badge and would park in resident spaces regardless), and the senior year school children. Only the last is a particular inconvenience, occupying spaces that parents on the school run would like to return to.
    There are far too many disadvantages, even if the cost wasn’t excessive (a small engined car doesn’t pay that much for Road Tax for a year!) and these disadvantages far outweigh the advantages for just a few hours a day when in reality the problems are not that great, it is after 6pm that parking gets really difficult. I will vote No.

  6. sam says:

    I agree we pay enough council tax and it would not solve the problem of parking in evening. Too many hmo, with students who all have cars putting too much pressure on parking and rubbish collection etc. Too many temp residents in term time, not seeing the place as home. We like it here but we are the only family on this block now. We have watched the others turn to hmos, as the older residents die. Making me think time to move, guess developers will buy this house too… And so on…
    Parking permits are just tinkering, and not addressing the core of the problem. A community can only sustain so many hmo.

  7. Tim says:

    Comments on what you say:

    ‘How would a scheme work’ – does not reflect the choice in the B&NES document (see para 2.1) – Why should a scheme be for the whole ward? What is the logic? Neither of the policy documents say that a single street RPZ will not be supported. There are already small, single street RPZs in central Bath and there can be extensions to existing ones. The statement doesn’t make much sense. (If I was cynical I might wonder if the one RPZ for your ward idea helps avoid putting Cllrs in a difficult position)

    ‘What are the parking pressures?’ – the main pressure is the number and extent of new RPZs elsewhere. A large new RPZ covering all Poets Corner and Bear Flat will be a much more substantial pressure than new residential development a distance away. Why else are those near the edge of existing RPZs more in favour?

    Residents of new development on the riverside have lower rates of car ownership and the many who do own a car will want to park outside their homes just like us but will actually live on streets better designed to do so.

    ‘The Community’s Position’ – you fail to mention the many business and services who support RPZs in the form of some parking restrictions to help them operate. (e.g. doctors and dentists)

    “Why are people opposed’ – why should people who have no car or off street parking necessarily be opposed? They don’t have to pay anything with or without?

    You do not mention road safety. Poor driving and dangerous parking is becoming a constant hazard on some stretches of road.

    Just some random impressions. Overall, the tone is “we have this in the ‘too difficult pile’ “. Cllrs should listen yes, but also lead and sometimes be bold.

  8. XYZ says:

    At the moment we have two key issues at the OP station end: Commuters and HMOs with more than one car each.

    I would happily pay for residents parking as it would reduce both of these problems.

  9. Emma says:

    I am in favour of permits on Mayfield road in Oldfield park. The students seem to all have cars and park up all week while they go to uni and also many people seem to park up in the morning as free parking for working in town and walk on in or to get the train. I would be happy to pay to park outside my house.

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