As you may be aware, GCC is introducing a parking permit scheme for residents within the Kingsholm and Wotton area. A large percentage of Kingsholm residents strongly object to the scheme because the scheme being introduced differs from that which was proposed initially and offers little or no benefit to them. In fact, it restricts them in many ways, and would seem to serve only as a fundraiser for the Council without addressing the real issues of parking within the Kingsholm area; HMO's in 2 or 3 roads and NHS staff overflow.

As well as residents, it further impacts key workers, students and other employees who drive and park in Kingsholm for work/school due to there being no other facilities available and, under the new scheme, they will no longer be able to do so and will be forced further away from school/work.

Key Concerns:

a)         Paying (£66 for 1st permit, £126 for 2nd) for a scheme which does not guarantee a space. It merely offers ‘priority’ for residents.

b)         Free parking for non-permit holders for 4 hours, which has no effect on Gloucester Rugby match day parking and allows non-permit holders to park free of charge for 21 hours out of 24 (can park at 3pm and stay until 12pm next day without charge).

c)         Discrimination against families who may be registered at the same address and lived in Kingsholm all their lives but with more than 2 vehicles per household - including families with children of driving age (NO EXCEPTIONS to the 2 permit per household rule). However, students and those in HMO’s (Houses with Multiple Occupancy) may be allowed a permit each (dependant on circumstances).

d)         The requirement to pay for temporary visitor's permits on a £1.30 per day/per vehicle basis and a restriction of only 50 permits per year.

e)         The scheme is running 7 days a week when there is no need for weekend restrictions if free four hour parking is allowed.

f)          Despite consultation and in some areas almost 100% objection, our voices have been ignored. 50% of respondents said no on initial consultation and only 43% were in favour (and the majority of them are now against the scheme having seen the full proposal). A majority of Estcourt Road residents voted against and it has not been included, but others, such as Malvern Rd, which voted overwhelmingly against, are included.

g)         The scheme does not address the key issue of NHS staff parking. It will only move them on to a new area, further from the Hospital.

h)         Those with off road parking need not pay. Why should other residents be discriminated against? The scheme should be for all or no one.

i)          6th Form Students, and teachers, who drive and park to attend Denmark Road School will be unable to do so. Those who work in the area will also be forced elsewhere where onsite parking is not available. Public transport in Gloucester cannot replace this need.

In summary, this has been a poorly thought out scheme which has totally disregarded the needs and concerns of the people it affects directly, the residents of Kingsholm, and in fact discriminates against them. We need to take positive action now to prevent this scheme going ahead and force our Council who are responsible for this to deal with the real issue of providing parking for those working in Gloucester, which includes our incredible NHS staff!