Kings Square parking chaos

No sooner had the agenda for Thursday’s meeting, which will discuss changes to the access arrangements in the City centre, been published than concerns were raised about linked issues.

Kings Square

In the main concerns related to the volume of traffic illicitly accessing roads through the area. Most noticeably the Monk Bar, Goodramgate, Kings Square route which seems to be widely misused.

The situation has got worse since the repaving of Kings Square with the Council apparently deciding against reintroducing parking restrictions (in case the yellow paint spoiled the appearance of the new paving).

The result has often been chaotic.

Kings Square

Today contractors seeking parking space before working on the new “Santas Grotto” found vehicles parked despite no parking cones having been put out.

At least one car had received a ticket but others had not.

Clearly sorting out this mess needs to take priority for the Councils limited resources.

One suggestion is that street furniture (e.g. seats) be located to stop parking although this would not stop vehicles parking on the Barnitts side of the square.

Yellow lines and regular enforcement are probably the only solution

More behind closed doors decisions

The York Council is continuing its policy of printing agendas and reports for officer decision meetings after they have taken place.

This robs interested residents of the opportunity to make representations.

Two recent examples have been

There is no reason why advanced notice of issues like these should not be given

York Council set to close large number of back lanes

Dozens of new parking restrictions also being rushed through before Council election called

Behind closed doors decisions were taken last week to close seven back lanes and alleyways in the City.

In addition new parking restrictions were proposed for sixteen streets across a wide area

They include (click for details)

Proposal to restrict public rights over alleyways between Curzon Terrace and Albemarle Road, and Knavesmire Crescent and Curzon Terrace (Micklegate Ward) None of the Ward Councillors responded to consultation on this plan which attracted a large number of objections
Proposal to restrict public rights over alleyway between Brunswick Street/South Bank Avenue, (Micklegate Ward)
Proposal to restrict public rights over alleyway between Kyme Street, Baile Hill Terrace and Newton Terrace, (Micklegate Ward)
Proposal to restrict public rights over alleyways between Barbican Road/Willis Street, Willis Street/Gordon Street and Gordon Street/Wolsley Street, (Fishergate Ward)
Residents’ Priority Parking Area in Abbey Street Director overruled a large number of objections including a request for a public decision meeting
A19 South Transport Corridor – Phase 1
Fishergate Hartoff Street parking restrictions
Guildhall George Street & Park Grove Parking restrictions
Haxby South Lane Parking restrictions
Heworth Second/Main Avenue, St John’s Walk. Wood Street & Dodsworth Ave parking restrictions
Holgate Poplar Street (rejected), Northcote Avenue, Yarburgh Grove Parking restrictions
Hull Road Milton Street Parking restrictions (rejected)
Huntington Willow Glade, Darwin Close & Brandsby Grove Parking restrictions
Osbaldwick Hull Road Parking (Deferred for 1 year) restrictions
Skelton Armstong Way Parking restrictions
Strensall The Village Parking restrictions
Westfield Kingsthorpe Parking restrictions
Summary Annual Review of Traffic Regulation Order Requests
Temporary staff for Trading Standards

Drop in car parking income bad news for York Council Taxpayers

“Meddling” by Labour Cabinet blamed for £400,000 shortfall in next years car parking income.

Car parking income click to enlarge

Fewer drivers are paying to use York’s car parks since controversial changes were made by the Labour lead Council. Labour famously doubled some charges when they came to office in 2011 and then tried to mitigate the effects with a series of ill-considered marketing trials.

The biggest drop predictably comes at the, now closed, Haymarket car park where nearly £150,000 a year in income has been lost. The site was sold by Labour two years ago as part of a much bigger land deal which also saw the former ambulance station and Peasholme hostel sites in Hungate included in the sale package. The sale to an insurance company, at the depth of the recession, bought in little over £2 million; less than half its present day value.

The parking income figures were revealed to members of a scrutiny committee which is chaired by Cllr Andrew Waller.

The reports also revealed that only around £80,000 has been paid by drivers for the, £20 a time, new style Minster badges which entitle users to free evening parking and day time discounts. This suggests that sales levels were exaggerated last year. Over 30,000 of the old (free) badges were in circulation

The cost of the “free parking” days is put at £250,000 a year. It is unclear whether the Council will be able to afford to continue the scheme into the new budget year.

The introduction of barrier controls at the Marygate car park may have contributed to a £128,000 fall in income at that site.

The only car park performing significantly above financial expectations is Esplanade (which has been designated as “short stay” for several years now).

“On street” parking income is performing above target, but accounts for less than 10% of the Councils income.

The Council has now been forced to reduce its forecast of car parking income for the forthcoming year by £400,000 meaning that savings on other public services will have to be made.

The Councils decision to tinker with car parking charging arrangements has proved to be damaging to the City.

We hope that they will allow things to stabilise over the next few years.

Decisions affecting traffic in every part of the City taken in private session by Labour Councillor

Traffic and parking decisions nodded through at behind closed doors session.

The man responsible for the secrecy was Labour Councillor David Levene.

Over 50 proposals for changes to parking restrictions and other local traffic management measures were decided last week.

Residents had no opportunity to influence the decisions with papers only being published on the Councils web site AFTER the meeting had concluded.

Labour Councillors representing areas like Westfield failed to make any representations on the plans which potentially affect dozens of local residents and hundreds of drivers.

This is the kind of secrecy and indifference that should disappear when Labour lose the Westfield by election and with it their Council majority.

The background reports can be read by clicking these links

Acomb

Bishopthorpe

Clifton

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe

Skelton Rawcliffe Clifton Without

Strensall

Westfield

Wheldrake

Eight garages available to rent in Foxwood from £6-99 per week.

8 garages have become available for rent in the Foxwood area.

click to enlarge

They are available for £6-99 a week for tenants or £8-39 for other residents.

There are also vacant garages available in Ascot Way, Windsor Garth, Ridgeway, Thoresby Road and Bramham Road as well as on many other estates across the whole City.

Rents for garages near the City centre are higher.

To express an interest in renting a garage tel 01904 552096

Lib Dems fight to resolve parking chaos in Clifton

Clifton Liberal Democrats are pushing for Newborough Street to be converted into a residential parking zone due to the shocking lack of availability for local residents.

Newborough Street

Local families are unable to park outside their own homes due to a large number of local workers and city commuters taking advantage of the street’s unrestricted parking. This problem is only set to increase with the completion of the new eco-homes development, local homeowner and Liberal Democrat campaigner Tobie Abel is calling on the council to take action.

A petition to convert the street into a residential parking zone has been gaining momentum and will be submitted to City of York Council on the 17th of July. Residents can show their support by contacting Tobie at tobieabel.libdem@gmail.com.

Tobie commented:

“After speaking to local residents it is clear that the current situation cannot continue. Newborough Street’s proximity to the hospital, the football club and the city centre puts a real strain on the limited parking available. Everyone I have spoken to has been very supportive of the petition, and we are calling on the council to take action.

The residential parking zone would finally give Newborough Street homeowners the spaces that they desperately need.”

Confusion at Marygate car park

Liberal Democrats have raised concerns over changes made to a city-centre car park ahead of this weekend’s Tour De France.

The changes, introduced earlier this week, will mean that motorists will no longer have the option to pay by mobile phone at the council-owned car park on Marygate.

More surprisingly there is no option to pay by debit or credit card with only cash payments accepted.

Liberal Democrats say the move is a step backwards and has not been properly advertised. The changes are believed to have cost £100,000 with the installation of new ticket barriers.

Usually Labour Cabinet members are falling over themselves to have their photographs taken next to their latest vanity project. But they have been strangely quiet on this one.

The Council haven’t even formally announced the change through a media release.

And no one has yet admitted responsibility for the decision not to accept charge card payments.

The move follows the unpopular introduction of a new charge which means residents will have to pay £20 for a Minster Badge parking pass.

Cllr Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Transport, commented:

“The poorly advertised changes at Marygate represent a step-backwards for car parks in York as the pay by phone option will no longer be available meaning that motorists will no longer be able to use their cards to pay. As more and more services become cashless, it seems that Labour run York Council is going the opposite way.

“There are some serious questions to be answered about spending £100,000 on the changes at the same time as asking residents to pay £20 for their discount Minster Badge. I don’t think local people will believe this represents value for money.

“I am also concerned that these changes have been poorly advertised and many drivers will turn-up at Marygate expecting to be able to pay by card, but will instead have to trudge to a cash machine. Introducing the scheme just days before the busy Tour De France weekend is also questionable.”

Foreign language instructions, clearly still visible, state that credit card payments can be made.

Yesterday several bewildered visitors were wandering around the car park asking for help with “change”.

The machine claims to give “change” but whether it could always be stacked up with a big enough float of £1 coins to fulfil this promise remains to be seen,

Marygate car park gets barrier

Marygate car park will be changing to pay-on-foot barrier operation from 06:00hrs Wednesday 02nd July.

— York Travel (@york_travel) June 30, 2014

The new equipment for Marygate has apparently has cost £100,000.

The reliability record of this type of system is also patchy

There are some big questions to be answered about value for money with residents discount Minster Badges now costing £20. .

Apparently the facility to pay by charge/credit card (or phone) will be withdrawn. Not clear whether it is a “no change given” machine. Assume it will accept notes!!

NB. Will charges apply in the evening? How will badge holders exit without paying?

Residents now asked to pay £20 for “Minster” parking sticker

The Council’s Labour Leadership are going ahead with their threat to scrap the free “Minster” badge which entitles residents to discounts on car parking charges.

This was introduced some years ago as a way of recognising that residents had paid for the car park to be established in the first place.

Residents will have to apply online to purchase a replacement badge. (Ironically, today, the web site https://www.york.gov.uk/minsterbadge links weren’t working).

The Council says that the charge will go towards making up a £280,000 shortfall on car parking income.

The shortfall has arisen since Labour increased car parking charges, some by as much as 80%, when they took office.

The new scheme means the end of “free” evening parking for residents. Free evening parking was something Labour campaigned for in 2007 when a £1 per evening charge applied for residents.

Now any resident, without one of the new Minster Badges, faces a £2 charge (the same as visitors).

When announcing their plans earlier in the year, Labour claimed that they wanted to provide an incentive for “frequent visitors” to return to the City, but it now appears that those living in the City’s hinterland will NOT be able to buy a badge.

With around £300,000 in car parking income now at risk because of the free morning parking introduced at some car parks on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday, it seems unlikely that the council has got its sums right.

We predict a strong reaction against the new charges from residents, some of whom may now choose to shop, and play, away from the City Centre.

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