Speaking about the results of the consultation exercise, carried out earlier this year, Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport & Environment, said: "This was not a referendum on whether or not Eastbourne should have a parking scheme, but a consultation to find out where residents have problems parking in their street and consequently would like to have some form of parking controls.
"We now plan to introduce a parking scheme on a trial basis. This will include 45 streets around the existing controlled parking zone in the town centre and in an area of the Meads. Introducing the scheme on a trial basis means that everyone affected will be able to help us fine tune the scheme and ensure that it truly reflects the views and needs of local residents and businesses.
"It will take some time to design the scheme in detail and consult on a street by street basis, so the earliest we can implement it is autumn 2007.
"We also want to make sure that the scheme benefits businesses by ensuring that valuable parking spaces are not clogged up with commuters so that shoppers, and other business users, can park close to where they want to be. Workers will still be be able to park free of charge but will have to park a little further out. Alternatively, some may choose to travel by bus and their journey should be quicker and more reliable because buses will not be held up by illegally parked vehicles. Nobody pretends that parking controls will be a remedy, but the present free-for-all is madness and is disastrous for business. Something needs to be done and everyone will have their own ideas about what that should be.
"We fully intend to work with Eastbourne businesses and are hoping that they will meet with other chambers of commerce in East Sussex, in towns which have parking schemes to share their experiences.
"Consultation does not stop here and we have no intention of introducing a scheme which would not be to the long-term benefit of residents and businesses. It is not just about preventing illegal parking, allowing residents to park in their streets and allowing shoppers better access to shops. It’s also about a long term goal to tackle congestion and improve public transport. By introducing a parking scheme, we can begin to make a real difference to shopping and visiting Eastbourne.
Notes to editors
What is an Experimental Order and why do it?
- As with any Traffic Regulation Order, the Council would consult with local people about the exact arrangements in their street to ensure that, as far as possible, there was a consensus about what should be done.
- The Council would then publish an experimental traffic regulation order specifying this in legal words. Once the experimental TRO was published and the scheme introduced, there would be a six month objection period and, at the same time, there would be the opportunity to fine tune the scheme if necessary.
- Finally, within eighteen months, the Council would consider any objections and decide whether to confirm the order or to revoke it.
The advantages of the experimental order process (compared with the alternative of going straight to permanent orders) are:
- changes can be made more quickly
- residents and others affected by the order can consider their responses to a scheme under real conditions (rather than what they imagine or fear might be the case based on their understanding of a plan) and
- there is a longer period for objection (six months rather than 21 days).
Reference:
1014
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