Agenda item

[Electoral Divisions: Penrith East, Penrith North and Penrith West]

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure.

This report is to update and inform Members, following the recommendations set out in the Penrith Parking and Movement Study Report in relation to on street parking which highlighted the requirement for a protocol to be in place for the management of resident and visitor exemptions. It also seeks approval from Eden Local Committee to proceed to statutory advertisement and consultation on the inclusion of the proposed Protocol, which is attached as Appendix 1 of the report, into the Penrith Order referred to in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure regarding the Parking Permit Protocol in Penrith. The report updated and informed Members, following the recommendations set out in the Penrith Parking and Movement Study Report in relation to on street parking which highlighted the requirement for a protocol to be in place for the management of resident and visitor exemptions. The report also sought approval from Eden Local Committee to proceed to statutory advertisement and consultation on the inclusion of the proposed Protocol into the Penrith Order.

The Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) explained that the protocol had been proposed because when permits were considered, there was no reasoning why they could or could not be given to the applicant. She expected to receive objections, particularly from residents who brought home a works van and wanted to park it outside their house. Work was underway with Eden District Council to identify alternative parking provision in these cases.

One member thought that the protocol would bring benefits to residents. She stated that where business premises were located on a road affected by Resident Only parking restrictions, it was not explicit if the occupier received the parking permit.

With regard to those residents with a garage at their property, a member highlighted that some residents used them for storage and the consultation may attract responses from them. The member queried how the total vehicle impact in Zone A had been calculated and wanted to understand how this would work in practice. She thought that if there wasn’t enough parking space on one road, there could be overspill onto another which could be in a different zone. The Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) explained that this would be addressed at the design stage and could be remedied through a disc parking scheme.

A member asked for the map of the zones. The  Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) undertook to provide this to the Committee.

A member awaited with interest, the response from Eden District Council regarding the use of their car parks. The member thought that vans could park in their car parks outside of office hours and therefore alleviate the demand for car parking spaces. It was noted that this had been drawn to the attention of Eden District Council officers.

The Chair proposed the recommendation as set out in the report. This was agreed by assent of the Committee.

RESOLVED that,

1             The Local Committee, having taken into consideration the matters contained in Section 122(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which are more specifically referred to at paragraph 7.2 of the Report, approves the draft Protocol for the Management and Operation of Residents Parking Exemption Scheme and Visitor Parking Permit Scheme (“the Protocol”) which is attached as Appendix 1 to the report, and give consent to Officers to progress to statutory consultation and advertisement of a variation to The County of Cumbria (Various Roads, Penrith) (Consolidation and Provision of Traffic Regulations) Order 2021 (“the Penrith Order”) to incorporate the Protocol.

2             The Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) circulate a map of the parking zones to the Local Committee.