Hundreds campaign against controversial parking zone

Residents say the Zone 16 scheme needs "a full impact assessment" before it is introduced

Hundreds of people are calling for plans for new parking restrictions in a residential area to be scrapped.

There is growing opposition to Gloucestershire County Council’s proposals to introduce a new residential parking scheme in Cheltenham, known as Zone 16.

It would mean residents would have to use designated parking bays, and non-residents would only be able to stay for a maximum of four hours.

Gloucestershire County Council has been approached for comment.

'Confusion'

The proposed new area was being created as part of a review of the current controversial parking permit, Zone 15, in the north east of the town.

If implemented, Zone 16 would cover Hewlett Road from Brighton Road, to Hales Road, Pittville Court, Pittville Circus Road and All Saints Road.

Outside of operational hours, vehicles could park on single yellow lines if it was safe to do so. However, residents said that the entire scheme is unnecessary.

Michael Bloxham, who opposed to the scheme, said: “The current confusion with Zone 15 is due to the poor design, planning and implementation of the signage and scheme.

“How can reducing parking spaces by over 100 plus spaces improve and benefit the parking opportunities for the residents of Zone 15/16?”

An online petition set up by residents now has more than 340 backers, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

They claimed the data used to justify the introduction of the control parking zone was flawed, due to it being collected prior and during the Covid lockdown.

Ian Weaving, another local resident, said he had met many elderly people that had become isolated due to the parking scheme, with some saying they did not see visitors any more due to the restrictions.

“I helped one elderly lady dig up her hedge so her son could get his car in the front garden, all because she could not use the technology that comes with this scheme,” Mr Weaving said.

“A friend’s mother got a ticket on a Sunday outside her own home because a child was being dropped off. These are just a few examples," he added.

Gloucestershire County Council had previously said it would analyse all the feedback of the public survey which concluded last month to ensure it could provide an improved scheme for all residents.