Please would you share your experiences of switching to residents’ parking?

[DamsonWhine]

We had residents’ parking in our previous house but we had only one car then. Now we live on an unrestricted street, but near an industrial estate and retail park. It’s workers from there who are parking in the road during the week and who are causing particular problems near our house parking around quite a tight square. It makes it quite difficult to see and to manoeuvre round the square, especially as cars approach from all angles at rush hour. There’s also a primary school in the zone. It’s not a problem at all at the weekend or in the evening.

We are lucky to have a drive but obviously have visitors/tradesmen from time to time. What I wouldn’t want is for our road to object to restrictions and they only apply in neighbouring roads so we end up fighting for space in our street. I’d like to understand from the council whether it’s all or nothing for the area proposed in terms of applying the restrictions.

Are there any disadvantages of switching to a residents’ parking scheme?

The main problem is that the council will issue permits to anyone who meets their criteria, regardless of whether there's enough space or not.

You still get some problems of too many cars for the spaces but not as bad. And you will get some who park without permits but you can report it. It's worth asking your council to do regular traffic warden patrols.

You usually get some visitor permits for tradesmen etc.

Ifailed they will limit permits to two per property. It’s clear from the weekends and evenings that there is enough space for actual residents; it’s the commuters that are the problem.

We've just switched to residential (London zone 2/3) and it's been far better than I thought.

Originally I was opposed to it as I don't have a car so wouldn't qualify for a permit, but like you often had visitors or trades people. It's a bit annoying to now have to shell out for their parking in the form of visitor passes, but the road is so much less congested now, especially at school times.

From my limited understanding of the process, you will never end up unrestricted in the middle of a restricted zone. Obviously the zone has to end somewhere, so there is a chance you'll be the first road in a certain direction with no restrictions, but you'll never be surrounded.

We are on the edge of the proposed zone, so I suppose there is a risk that they bring the edge of the zone in to exclude us. We have a sports club at the end of the road and the users have got form for parking like twats, too close to the junction and on the verges etc. It would certainly stop them.

We also have a neighbour who has form for parking really inconsiderately and using his works van to save a space outside his house, despite having a drive outside his own garage, albeit across the road from his house. But then he also likes to park at a 45 degree angle to the kerb so I doubt residents’ parking is going to thwart him.

If no one patrols the residents only parking it'll be used as before except you'll be paying the council for the privilege of having a permit or two.

The council do patrol; they certainly did periodically where we used to live. I expect they will patrol regularly when it’s first introduced.

Having considered all the ins and outs I can’t really see a disadvantage.