Residents Parking Scheme for Montpelier approved after consultation feedback
Incorporating amendments from the statutory (formal) consultation, Montpelier RPS has now been approved and will run from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm from mid-July onwards.
There will be a number of 4-hour pay & display parking bays near businesses and other community facilities like schools, with the first 30 minutes free.
Changes after consultation include replacing some double yellow lines with permit holders only parking and creating extra bays for disabled badge holders only. Blue Badge holders can also park in any pay & display bay or shared use bay for an unlimited time period free of charge.
Residents will receive the usual allocation of 50 free visitor scratch-card permits per year and the option of buying up to another 50 for £1 each. Details of how to apply will be sent to all households in the coming weeks.
Businesses based in the scheme area can apply for up to seven permits and travel planning support is available to any organisation that requests it in order to help them identify other suitable travel alternatives for members of staff and to assist them in managing their permit allocation if required.
Mayor of Bristol, George Ferguson, said: “After thorough consultation I’m pleased to see the improved Montpelier RPZ is now to be rolled out. In particular to see that extra-provision for blue badge holders has been included, as this is something both councillors and local residents had raised with me.
“Pollution and congestion are two of the biggest challenges we face in the city and residents parking is just part of the solution, as well as making local streets safer and more civilised. I hope residents experience improvement, but if not there will be a review after six months operation.”
After the Montpelier scheme is introduced all the arrangements will be monitored, especially around some of the busiest areas, with the hours of operation and the balance between the different types of parking reviewed after six months.
Full details of the operating conditions and a detailed map of the RPS layout is available at www.bristol.gov.uk/rps
Initial proposals for a Residents’ Parking Scheme in Montpelier were developed in early 2014 and following an informal consultation in April 2014, several key changes were taken forward to respond to the comments and suggestions received. These were consulted on during a period of statutory consultation running from September 25th to October 17th 2014.
The Montpelier RPS proposals meet the objectives of the Council’s overall transport strategy, as set out in the Joint Local Transport Plan 2011-2026.
Managing car parking and prioritising its use for residents, visitors, people visiting shops, and essential business use is a tried and tested method in advanced economies to reduce the negative impacts of excessive car-commuting, deliver efficient, well-used public transport, encourage more active travel and free up our streets and public spaces for other uses.
Significant numbers of current car trips work in central Bristol come from within the city itself and a large proportion of these could be made by public transport, car sharing, walking or cycling.
Bristol is set to generate 30,000 more jobs in the coming years. Its population and per capita car ownership is increasing. We need to act now to tackle congestion, future proof our economic prosperity and continue to improve out central neighbourhoods.
Montpelier is the ninth RPS area to be approved in the current programme of twelve areas. The full programme is available at www.bristol.gov.uk/rps