Residents have called on the council to take more decisive action in its proposed crackdown on illegal parking in Durham City centre. Locals argue that nighttime parking issues are tarnishing the historic city and posing a threat to public safety.
Durham County Council has suggested new measures, including parking charges, to deter displaced and unlawful car parking in the city’s medieval peninsula. The new proposals include extending the road user charge to Sundays and bank holidays, lengthening the charging period from 10am-4pm to 2am daily, and raising the fee to enter the city’s historic area from £2 to £5 per vehicle.
New number plate recognition cameras are also set to be introduced as part of the regulations. It is hoped these changes will help address issues associated with the city’s night-time economy.
Adam Shanley, City of Durham Parish Council executive officer, said: “For many months, our medieval peninsular, particularly the Market Place and Elvet Bridge areas of our city, have been subjected to significant abuse by a number of road users; with displaced and inconsiderate parking blighting the evening ambiance of our city as well as the safety of pedestrian users who frequently report having to avoid vehicles entering and exiting these zones on a frequent basis.”
However, community leaders have warned that the measures may not be sufficient to solve the parking problems. Initial proposals suggest motorists will be charged £5 once and there is no limit on how many times a vehicle can re-enter.
Councillor Susan Walker, chair of the parish council, has voiced concerns over vehicles having “full unfettered access to our peninsular right the way up to the Cathedral doors almost.”
She further added: “This will simply be ineffective in addressing the main issue that residents regularly contact us about, namely the constant to-ing and fro-ing of delivery vehicles in and out of the peninsular. Allowing unlimited re-entry for a single daily charge, as is presently the case, will only incentivise frequent trips; negating the scheme’s aims of reducing vehicles and improving air quality.
“While we applaud the intention to get tougher on new parking regs, the parish council is calling on Durham County Council to go further and faster and re-draft these proposals, such that the £5 access charge is applied each and every time a vehicle enters the road user charging zone. We regard this as the most fair and proportionate approach to tackle this issue.
The proposals are expected to be considered by the council’s Highways Committee in 2025. Kieron Moralee, Durham County Council’s traffic management section manager, said: “We share the City of Durham Parish Council’s concerns about the high number of vehicles parking in the peninsular area.
“We hope that significantly increasing the road user charge and extending the hours in which it is in operation will act as a deterrent. However, we will review the effectiveness of these changes after they are implemented and will consider introducing additional measures if necessary.”
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/durham-residents-demand-tougher-measures-30643562
