Trowbridge's ideas on parking

The town council's development committee will meet on December 2nd to consider its response to Wiltshire Council's parking consultation. TTC would like to take over the management of the council-owned car parks, pointing out that the previous round of changes by WC were so badly managed that they actually resulted in a drop in income despite higher charges. TTC would be looking for a more sensible management regime, and would also like to see residents' parking schemes for many residential roads around the town centre.

Recommendations of the town clerk are that:

1. The Town Council supports the consideration of a Residents' Parking Zone scheme in streets surrounding the town centre, as follows: Innox Rd, Innox Mill Close, Bradford Road, Westbourne Gardens, Wingfield Rd (from Stallard St to Hungerford Av.), Newtown, Gloucester Rd, Wesley Rd, Bond St, Avenue Rd. Westbourne Rd. Henderson Close, Gladstone Rd, Park St, West St, Waterworks Rd, Frome Rd (from Newtown to Waterworks Rd), Lamplighters Walk, County Way, Ashleigh Grove, Mortimer Street, New Rd, Havelock St, Polebarn Rd, Yerbury St, Eastbourne Rd, Eastbourne Gardens, Fulong Gardens, Ashton St, Harford St, Clarks Place, Alma St, Lower Alms St, The Halve, Duke St, Union St, Brewers Walk, St Thomas Rd (from The Halve to Stancomb Ave, Bellefield Cres, Delemere Rd, Keats Close, Islington, Downhayes Rd, Lower Court, Timbrell St, Prospect Place, Bristish Row, Poplar Lane, Cross St, Charlotte St, George St, Adcroft Drive, Adcroft St, Conigre, Church St, Upper Broad St, Broad St, Back St, Shails Lane, Manley Close, Seymour Court, Westcroft St, Seymour Rd (from Shails Lane to Melton Rd), Melton Rd (from Seymour Rd to Charles St), Jenkins St (from Seymour Rd to Charles St), Riverway, Hill St, Wicker Hill and Stallard St.

Additional areas to the south side of the town centre, such as Brown Street, Orchard Road, Clothier Leaze, Dursley Road, Longfield Road, Stancomb Avenue could be included, as could separate areas around the College, such as Lilac Grove, College Road, Beech Grove, Willow Grove and Chestnut Grove.

2. The Town Council agrees that priority should be given to short stay parking closest to the town centre with long stay parking on the fringes, but local circumstances must be taken into account.

3. The Town Council believes more detailed assessment should be undertaken before car parks are sold for redevelopment or to facilitate other developments.

4. The Town Council does not accept that the 'Proposed changes' contained in Wiltshire Council's 'Car Parking Strategy review - public consultation - Parking Charges Summary - Trowbridge' document satisfactorily considers appropriate and relevant local town information in developing the options suggested and that more detailed analysis needs to be undertaken.

5. Therefore the Town Council pursues the option of the transfer of decision making regarding stay length and charges for car-parks as part of a cost neutral package of activity or asset transfers and that officers are delegated to negotiate a suitable arrangement with Wiltshire Council prior to consultation and further consideration by the Town Council. The Town Council does not believe this responsibility should be delegated to the Area Board

6. Any alternative arrangement must satisfactorily address the current high level of free parking availability in the multi-storey car-park, supermarket car-parks and residential streets and must therefore be introduced in conjunction with appropriate controls on on-street parking which recognises the impact of all-day parking on residents, whilst increasing the use of charged for car-parks through the introduction of reasonable all-day charges.

7. Any alternative arrangement should address the potential for a reduction in the availability of all-day spaces in the multi-storey car-park whilst retaining it as a free car-park in line with the existing deed.

8. Any alternative arrangement should seek to address the requirement for adequate parking for library users in the vicinity of County Hall. Parking for visitors and staff at County Hall should be fair and equitable in relation to facilities available at Monkton Park, Chippenham and Bourne Hill, Salisbury as well as in relation to public parking availability in Trowbridge Town Centre.

9. The Town Council supports the introduction of new technology for managing car-parks.