Noting the results of the consultation/comments and that Bicton Place properties are deemed eligible for Zone C, why is Bicton Place not a road facilitating permit parking? Please provide a detailed assessment of how this decision was arrived at and all the factors that were taken into consideration, both for and against.
The carriageway in Bicton Place is fully covered by controlled parking with either No Waiting At Any Time (double yellow lines) or Limited Waiting restrictions. These restrictions were in place prior to the residents parking scheme being proposed.
These restrictions were introduced a number of years ago and have not been changed as part of the residents parking scheme nor were they included in any of the proposals.
The limited waiting bay was not going to be amended or changed as part of the proposed scheme.
2019 Informal Consultation – Roads and transport
The justification for providing residents of Bicton Place a resident permit is due to Bicton Place residents stating they used to park within the area covered by the new residents’ parking scheme.
Residents of Bicton Place properties can apply for permits for Zone C but to get to the majority of the resident parking bays which are on Bicton Street, Bicton Villas and Montpelier Road, as Bicton Street is one way, those living on Bicton Place would have to drive for half a mile around the houses, essentially along Rolle Road, left into Raleigh Road, then left into Gussiford Lane before arriving at the top of Bicton Street and Montpelier Road/Bicton Villas to find a place to park in a residents’ parking bay. Was this even thought about and the detour taken into consideration and, if so, why was it deemed acceptable?
The existing restrictions in Bicton Place are not changing nor are any of the one-way streets etc. so residents would have had to make the detour previously. If they so wish to park on those streets, then they will need to continue to make that detour.
It is very clear that the communication to local residents particularly relating to the difference between eligible properties and roads facilitating the scheme was not explained effectively to local residents as requested by EDDC Councillor Paul Millar and minuted in the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee Meeting on 9 December 2022. Why weren’t steps taken to communicate the scheme changes to local residents?
The consultation was as follows:
- 2019 Devon County Councillor consultation regarding the requests from Exmouth residents for a resolution to the parking problems they were experiencing.
- 25 October 2019 public consultation – all residents in the affected areas were sent a booklet detailing the consultation and the details of how a residents parking scheme could work. The consultation received over 1,200 responses from around 1,000 addresses in Exmouth. Item 88. Agenda for East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on Friday, 4th December, 2020, 10.30 am – Democracy in Devon
- December 2020 – A report was taken to East Devon HATOC to consider the responses and the proposed scheme. HATOC Agreed to the recommendation to proceed to a statutory public consultation.
- 3 August – 24 August 2022 – statutory consultation received over 1,300 responses from around 1,000 addresses in Exmouth mostly via the online form.
- December 2022 – a further report was taken to HATOC (Item 39) to consider the responses from the August consultation. Item 39. Agenda for East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on Friday, 9th December, 2022, 10.30 am – Democracy in Devon
- Notice of implementation letters were sent in July 2023
- Scheme starts 14 Aug 2023
When signposts were not put up at Bicton Place this led me to enquire at DCC what was happening with residents’ parking on Bicton Place. I telephoned the council three times and sent several emails and received assurances from separate officers that Bicton Place wasn’t showing on the MiPermit website due to a mistake in the administration but that it would be added. This information was incorrect and I only found this out myself when I looked at the DCC website and reviewed the traffic order. Why was there a breakdown in communication within the council departments and officers and what steps can be taken to make sure this doesn’t happen again?
As soon as we were informed of the error, we took steps to make sure it was corrected. It is now corrected.
When the scheme is to be reviewed by the Council in December 2023, exactly what factors are going to be considered whether to deem it a success or not and/or to carry out any amendments? Will local residents be asked for their views? Will parking enforcement officers be asked for their views as they are the officers on the ground day in day out walking the streets? Talking to one parking enforcement officer today who has been employed in Exmouth for many years he wasn’t even aware of the residents’ parking scheme in Zone C which comes into force on Monday 14 August! Why weren’t the parking enforcement officers told about the proposed scheme or asked for their views as part of the consultation exercise?
Any future review will consider all the comments received. Any changes to the restrictions will require a change to the Traffic Regulation Order which will include a public consultation.
How many parking enforcement officers work in Exmouth and is every day of the week covered?
No Civil Enforcement officers are only employed to work in Exmouth, Exmouth is patrolled by the Central Devon Parking Enforcement Team and every one of the 22 officers in that team is trained on enforcement in Exmouth. Exmouth is a priority beat and as such is covered every day of the week. The level of enforcement also fluctuates in response to enforcement requests, specific events and in response to the changing seasons.
Will additional officers be employed to properly enforce the new residents’ parking scheme?
We will be enforcing using our current resources, however if we decide additional enforcement is required we will divert resources on a temporary basis and observe to see if this needs to be a permanent change.
What was the revenue generated from road parking fines in Exmouth during the council’s last financial year?
£147,131.18.
What was the monetary budget for the implementation of this residents’ parking scheme and what are the costs incurred against the budget? Please tell me the amounts invoiced by WSP as consultants and are there more costs to come?
The projected budget for the scheme was £50,000. The current cost is £56,000. This will increase as the final invoices are received from the signing and lining contractors. The scheme should be self-funding. The fees received from the permit charges aim to cover the costs of implementation, administration, maintenance and enforcement of the scheme.