The city centre’s last free car park could soon be a thing of the past after Hanover residents voted yes in a first-stage consultation.
The city council asked people living in Hanover, Elm Grove and the Pankhurst Estate if they would support controlled parking in principle, and just over half of the 2,877 households who responded voted yes.
In Hanover itself, two in three people said yes, with most wanting a heavy touch scheme from 9am to 8pm seven days a week – except the north east corner who wanted no scheme at all.
North of Elm Grove and the Pankhurst Estate narrowly voted against – but as across the whole area 56.4% respondents voted yes, officers are recommending a scheme which takes in all the streets is now drawn up and put out to consultation, with options for either heavy or light touch.
It says this is because neighbouring areas will now be aware that Hanover is likely to vote yes, and so residents may change their minds when faced with issues of displacement.
Officers recommend that Craven Vale is asked if it wants its own scheme, or to be added to the neighbouring light touch parking zone U.
In a report to the city council’s environment and transport committee, which meets next Tuesday, officer Charles Field said: “Residents across the overall area will be given the opportunity to accept or reject the proposed schemes at the next stage of the consultation and this will be reported back to a further meeting of this committee for a final decision.
“At the next stage residents who are not in favour of a scheme will be aware of roads that are in favour in the area south of Elm Grove. They will get the opportunity to consider the implications of possible vehicle displacement if other roads go ahead with a scheme.
“Residents will be given the opportunity to comment on the detailed design and vote with more knowledge of the road by road layout of parking.
“Experience has shown that residents in areas just outside proposed schemes come forward to request a re-consultation if they are not included, as evidenced at recent committees.”
A full breakdown of how each street voted can be found in the committee papers here.
For the first time ever I complemented Brighton council for doing something right for a change but they are back to normal don’t they realise how much their present parking system deters lots of visitors from going to Brighton what they are now planning will make it even worse not just for visitors but for people who live there.It’s another case of one dept. not knowing what the others are doing I really despair of them!!!
I love Brighton so much and used to live there as a child. Used to take my son there as a young child and he went to uni there. How I loved my visits from London who lives in Barnes and controlled parking until midday mon/Fri free at w/ends. Great for business and keeping the high street alive. Ease up on the parking Brighton it’s better for the economy as us visitors will spend more money!!!!!
What is a light touch parking zone?
soft touch means restrictions for just 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening, stopping long term parking but allowing people still to visit, shop and tradesman to work in the area for several hours a day uninhibited. It is the best scheme on offer of all but the council don’t like as it does not raise as much revenue.
i live in haywards heath and work in brighton. having the parking available is a god send. if this comes into place i will have to look elsewhere for work as the buses dont offer a regular service (it would take me 2 hours to get home with the current timetable) and with the trains they way they are, its a joke!!! the public transport is not good enough to replace my car! to be honest, its not even worth my while coming down here for pleasure anymore, its too expensive and parking is a rip off for day trips. its true what another lady put on here, people will spend their ‘day trip’ money elsewhere because its not worth the hassle.
Brighton is overcrowded with too many cars and visitors. Residents benefit from controlled parking because we don’t have to worry about finding a parking space near where we live. (If we venture further afield, like into the next parking zone, we are in the same boat as everyone else!) Surely residents are more important than visitors? We pay our council tax and parking fees all year round but I often get the feeling we are bottom of the council’s priorities, probably because they take us for granted.