Parking improvement plan 2016-19

We asked how important our objectives for improving parking over the next three years are to you. We also asked for your comments on the actions outlined in the plan, and for you to tell us about anything missing from our proposals that should be addressed.

The online consultation had 239 respondents.

The objectives that the highest number of people said were ‘quite’ or ‘very important’ and therefore should be prioritised were:

Improving traffic flow (92%)

Improving air quality (88%)

People noted the link between traffic congestion and air quality and said we needed to explain more clearly how our plans would tackle air pollution. Suggestions for solving congestion were very varied but the overall sentiment favoured improving public transport services, encouraging alternative means of travel around the city such as cycling, and improving congestion hotspots in the road system. We needed to say more about these things in our plans.

Improving safety around schools (87%)

Clearer parking restrictions (83%)

Stronger enforcement of parking restrictions (82%)

In many comments people cited the nuisance or danger to other road users and pedestrians caused by inconsiderate parking as very good reasons for making parking rules clearer and enforcing them more widely. Discouraging illegal and dangerous parking around schools was often mentioned, as was the importance of helping parents and pupils choose safe and healthy ways to travel to school.

Improving parking availability for business, leisure and shopping in city neighbourhoods (77%)

Improving car parking in the city centre received a mixed response, (66% against 31% who said it wasn’t important or had no opinion). The most frequent comments were that parking prices should be reduced, and that parking for residents and shoppers in city neighbourhoods should be improved.

Improving customer services, our online information and improving city car parks were all lower priorities. Most comments were about offering more modern payment methods.

We reviewed our proposed actions in light of the results of the survey. We are dealing with the current day-to-day issues around parking, and we're also ensuring our actions support the Council’s wider plans to improve air quality and build in sustainability for the future.

We have updated our action plan and we have produced a short report to illustrate some of the works we are carrying out.