Coventry traffic scheme partly scrapped amid traders' gripes

Traders on Far Gosford Street said the changes had caused 'unmitigated disaster' for their businesses

A council is partly scrapping traffic changes on a Coventry road after businesses labelled the measures an "unmitigated disaster" for livelihoods.

Traders on Far Gosford Street said the changes had led to a spike in parking tickets, putting off shoppers.

That in turn, they complained, had hit their revenues.

The scheme included making the road a red route, adding more disabled parking bays, reducing short stay spaces and changing waiting restrictions.

Along with the parking ticket increase, a petition by traders complained there were too many disabled bays, with additional measures making it difficult for motorists to stop.

The document, which gathered 45 signatures, stated: "The council will know that you can't keep handing out hundreds of parking tickets and expect the area to become a vibrant economic hub."

In November 2022 the area was made subject to an experimental order to tackle traffic concerns raised by police and bus users.

At a Coventry City Council cabinet meeting on Wednesday, it was claimed that traders had not been visited by officers or asked about how the changes had affected them.

Under revised measures, some of the disabled bays added to the street will go, while more limited-wait bays - with a maximum stay of 30 minutes - will be introducedt.

That measure is designed to help create a greater turnover of spaces, although blue badge holders will be able to stay longer.

An area opposite Fargo village will also see its double yellow lines removed and become a limited-wait loading bay site instead.

But other elements of the scheme will be kept, including the street's red route status, introduced to help keep traffic moving. "Obstructive" parking was reportedly harming bus journey times.

Councillor Jim O'Boyle stressed the need to engage with businesses to make sure their experience was "properly fed back".