THORNBURY town centre residents fear new parking charges will cause “misery” in their streets.
People living in Pullins Green (above), which is opposite the main Rock Street car park, say they are desperate for action to stop motorists using their road as an alternative when charges are introduced in the spring.
They want to see a residents’ parking scheme to be introduced in the area.
Resident Rachel Knight said: “We already have serious issues with parking in our road, despite being less than a minute’s walk from the up-to-now free Rock Street car park.
“Many of us have written to our MP and various departments within the council to express our deep concern at what is inevitably going to cause us further daily misery with no positive outcome.
“We are desperate!”
Rachel said there are 30 recognised parking places in the road but more than 70 residents who need parking – as well as visitors and commuters who already park in the road.
She said: “Day after day, we watch a constant stream of vehicles arrive as early as 7am and park until often beyond 6pm.
“Many of us never want to leave our precious parking space for fear of not finding one on our return and having to park many streets away.”
Road will be ‘full’ of cars avoiding charges
Another resident, Neil Matthews, said: “South Gloucestershire Council’s refusal to implement a residents’ parking scheme means that our road will inevitably be full of people trying to avoid the new charges – and it will become virtually impossible for local residents, most of whom have no off-street parking, to park near their homes.”
Barbara Shircliff, who has a long-term health condition, said: “Walking far and safely can be a struggle. It is very challenging and stressful to secure a parking space at any time.
“The idea of the ‘free’ parking becoming paid fills me with dread.”
Resident Brian Cason said it was “ironic” that after the council spent £4.6 million on changes to the High Street, and refurbished Rock Street car park in 2022, “one of the results of this was to reduce parking and access to a minimum in the High Street but, in turn, send many blue badge holders to the car parks where there is a reduced parking availability”.
Rachel says she has been told the council does not have the resources implement residents’ parking in the road, and accused the authority of “slamming the door in our face”.
Parking charges were agreed as part of the current council budget, with the aim of raising more than £800,000 per year.
Rock Street, which has 321 spaces, will have a mixture of long and short-stay parking.
Short-stay charges will range from 70p for an hour to a maximum of £5 for up to four hours.
Long-stay charges range from £3 for up to four hours to £5 for more than six hours, with season tickets charged from £20 for a week to £840 for a year.
The council says that “at least 10% of spaces” in short stay car parks will be free for up to 30 minutes.
Blue badge holders will be able to park free for up to four hours in any space at any car park.
When it announced the charges, the council said it recognised that “displacement parking” could take place on nearby streets as a result, but said new restrictions, including residents parking schemes with a “demonstrated local need and demand”, would not be considered before charges are brought in.
Council is ‘monitoring’ situation
A council spokesperson said: “The council is actively monitoring on-street parking levels in the area, and once charges are implemented, usage will be regularly analysed to assess any changes in parking behaviour.
“This will allow us to compare car park usage before and after the introduction of charges.
“If there are indications of significant displacement to nearby streets, such as Pullins Green, this will be reviewed and assessed to determine if further action is necessary.”
The council says a residents’ parking scheme for the town centre proposed in 2013 did not receive enough support to go ahead in Pullins Green and neighbouring St John Street, although it went ahead in the High Street, where it had 100% support.
Thornbury Chamber of Commerce and the Thornbury Town Centre Partnership have already publicly opposed the charges, which will also be introduced at Castle Court and St Mary Street.