Green light for new residents' parking zone

Cars can currently park for free in Evington Road, Leicester

Plans for a new residents' parking scheme on a busy road in Leicester have been given the go-ahead.

Leicester City Council will introduce the scheme in and around Evington Road to help address concerns over drivers using residential streets for free all-day parking.

Under the scheme, residents' permits will cost £35 per year, business permits will be £100 per year per vehicle - or £150 per year for transferable permits between vehicles - and visitor permits will be £40 per year or £2 for a day.

The scheme, which will involve more than 20 streets, is expected to come into effect in mid-November, following a two-week warning period during which notices will be issued to vehicles without permits.

The new traffic regulation order will affect about 1,300 homes and businesses in the area.

Streets where the changes will be enforced include Chepstow Road, Conway Road, Evington Parks Road, Evington Road, Glossop Street, and Mundella Street.

Ripon Street, which already has a residents' parking order in place, will be moved into the new scheme area.

The council said short-term parking bays would be provided to support businesses in the area, which would allow visitors to park for up to one hour.

Permits for landlords and carers will also be available.

There will be 10-minute limited waiting bays created on parts of Evington Road to cater for vehicles stopping to collect takeaway food.

Loading bays will also be provided for local businesses.

Meanwhile, new double-yellow lines will be introduced at junctions to help tackle congestion and other issues caused by dangerous and inconsiderate parking, the council added.

Drivers who fail to display a relevant parking permit within a residents' parking zone will face a penalty charge notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

The authority said vehicles displaying a Blue Badge would be exempt from the "permit holders only" restriction.

While the city council moves ahead with the Evington Road parking scheme, plans to extend the existing Highfields residents' parking scheme to include seven additional streets off St Peter's Road have been postponed.

Further research is being carried out before the changes can be implemented.