Agenda item

The Committee considered a report in connection with the outcome of a statutory public consultation for the introduction of a residents’ permit scheme in Bailgate and Chapel Lane requested by the City of Lincoln Council. Those stakeholders who were likely to be affected were consulted, and broad support was received. Following further consultation, it was identified that, generally, residents supported the scheme, believing it would offer significant parking convenience, while local businesses objected to the overall loss of parking and perceived subsequent loss of trade. In recognition of the divisive proposal, the Committee were presented recommendations to either proceed with the scheme as advertised, abandon the scheme altogether or agree for further work to identify a permit scheme with a reduced impact Bailgate’s commercial activity.

As local Member for Ermine and Cathedral, Councillor K E Lee was invited to address the Committee. Her comments were as follows:

·       She had met with both representatives of the Bailgate Guild and local residents and felt she could appreciate concerns from both sides.

·       The accounts of local residents were relayed to the Committee including detail of a paramedic who worked long shifts and often started or finished work at very unsociable times having to subsequently walk some distance to get to her home in darkness which she found frightening and unsafe. A second resident worked as a cardiac practitioner on call so needed to get to the hospital to assist in life-or-death procedures at short notice despite having to walk to work because she didn’t have a convenient place to park her car. A third resident, a retired Bailgate retail owner, supported residents’ parking currently and before his retirement. Other residents included an elderly suffer of dementia who needed straightforward access to her home and a disabled resident whose carers struggled to find parking. Other general daily problems included dropping off weekly shops and arranging for a tradesman to be able to access homes for repairs.

·       Residents of streets near Bailgate had been awarded parking permits which made the residents of Bail gate feel that they were being treated unfairly.

·       Councillor Lee felt the results of a survey, stating 59 responses were against while 33 were in support, were misleading as the hostility faced by residents resulted in one person responding on behalf on of 24 residents. Of the 59 responses against the proposals, only 18 were submitted from local traders and 70 per cent were received from visitors to the area.

·       The spaces identified in option one of the recommendations sat in the residential area of Bailgate and, Councillor Lee felt, were a substantial enough distance from businesses to mitigate any detrimental effect. Furthermore, she suggested that visitor parking spaces were available on Highgate, Castle Hill Car Park, and the Westgate Car Park which, in her experience, appeared to be available at peak times.

·       She commented that there was no evidence to support speculation that granting residents’ parking places would come into conflict with local business viability citing previous changes to Bailgate including pedestrianisation and loss of significant enterprises.

·       If the Committee were minded supporting option three, she suggested that they consider inclusion of a robust timeframe which would identify progress and finalisation.

Members asked where currently residents of Bailgate and Chapel Lane parked and if the City of Lincoln Council offered long term parking scheme for residents. The Programme Leader for Minor Works and Traffic advised that residents currently undertook their own private arrangements for parking with local organisations or used on street parki ng on the highway some distance away.

Noting the number of properties in the area, Members asked how many spaces were available. The Programme Leader for Minor Works and Traffic advised that there were 50 properties, entitled to two permits each, competing for 32 parking places. However, the costs involved often discouraged a total take up of permits.

Observing the parking allowances made to Blue Badge holders, Members asked if the proposed one-hour parking limited would extend to those Blue Badge holders. The Programme Leader for Minor Works and Traffic clarified that Blue Badge holders would be exempt from such restrictions.

Concerns were raised on the issue of parking displacement as a result of imposed restrictions. The Programme Leader for Minor Works and Traffic suggested that, if the Committee were minded to resolve for further investigation, then consideration would be given to an alternative scheme to accommodate permit parking in the area.

Some Members noted that Lincoln had significant amounts of other car parks to provide retail accessibility, furthermore, increased distances pedestrians would have to travel to their destination after parking would increase footfall in other areas and stimulate the local economy.

Members raised concerns that option one of the recommendations would severely limit the shorter stay parking provisions relied on by commercial and retail enterprises. While it was appreciated that the parking bays may not be as highly occupied during the day, the night-time economy and tourism could be particularly impacted. The Bailgate area was considered by Members to be a key area for tourism and trade. Ultimately, they felt that further investigations would enable wider stakeholder satisfaction.

It was suggested by Members that they felt their determination of this application would be greatly informed by a site visit.

On a motion proposed by Councillor I G Fleetwood and seconded by Councillor N H Pepper, it was:

RESOLVED (unanimous)

1.       That further work to identify a means by which a permit scheme may be introduced in some form be undertaken with a view to reduce the potential impact on Bailgate’s economy and community.

2.       That, prior to any further consideration Planning and Regulation Committee, Members of the Committee by offered the opportunity for a site visit.