Exmouth Residents Permit Parking
In 2022, we were asked to complete a survey and voting card to determine whether parking permits are required in our community.
Therefore, under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000, I request that the votes be fully disclosed to the public, so it can be publicly verified that this was agreed by a majority.
There was no vote on the Exmouth Residents Parking proposals.
This request is also for the information and answers to the following questions to be provided:
* Who put in the initial request for these permits? Was it a resident/residents? Or is it part of a Government or Globalist agenda, such as the Devon Carbon Plan?
As published on our website, in 2019, Devon County Council ran a consultation to measure the support for a residents’ parking scheme in certain areas in Exmouth. This was in response to requests from residents of these areas and reports that they are experiencing difficulties with the current on-street parking that is taking place.
* Where and when was the public consultation held? Was this announced to the residents publicly, so that they could attend?
There was no physical consultation held due to the Covid Virus. All properties were sent details of the consultation with details on where to find more information and how to respond.
* What laws allow a council to apply permits to public roads?
Traffic restrictions are introduced through powers granted by the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984
* A fellow resident has written to the council, and they have confirmed that part of the plan is that we will be limited to one car per household with the goal that eventually residents will not have need of a car, in line with the Devon Carbon Plan. Please can you confirm if this is the case? Is there any truth to this and how have you made the people of Exmouth, and indeed Devon aware of this?
There are no plans to restrict residents to 1 residents permit. For information I include below an extract from the consultation material sent to all properties.
“… for a limited time when the scheme is first introduced, existing residents will be able to buy as many permits as there are eligible vehicles registered at their address and may continue to renew these additional permits (before they expire) for so long as they remain living there.”
* Residents from nearby streets, where the permits were voted against, are now also concerned that this will mean residents from nearby areas will start using their parking spaces to avoid the permitted areas. Has this been taken into consideration and what are your plans to alleviate this?
This possibility has been discussed and this is one of the reasons the East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee resolved that a report be brought back to the Committee in December 2023 to review the restrictions. This review can consider other roads in the area depending on the feedback from the public.
Further, if charging spaces are being added for electric vehicles (EV’s), which was also mentioned as part of the permit plan, this will also reduce normal car parking spaces. Although, this is not my main concern for EV’s, as I’m sure you are aware of the fire risk for the batteries in these vehicles, and that they are incredibly difficult to put out. The Fire Service have testified to this, please see their website Tackling fires in electric vehicles (ife.org.uk). I for one do not want these cars parked near my house or near my car. Has any provision been made by the council for a full and detailed risk assessment, inclusive of impact on residents, public health and potential hazards of such technology?
No. Vehicles of permitted types, that are appropriately insured, taxed and MOT’d are permitted to use and park on highway except where explicitly excluded by our Traffic Regulation Order. Electric vehicles have access to the network in a similar manner to any other vehicle and may park within limited waiting or pay & display on a high street or within a residents parking area when holding a suitable permit.