City parking proposals ‘respond to community concerns’

Telford to become a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)

Councillors have approved recommendations to progress proposals addressing parking pressures across Edinburgh, following the publication of findings from a citywide strategic review of parking.

The decision will see 25 new Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) created across the city and a host of Priority Parking Areas will also be introduced.

Members of the Transport and Environment Committee first gave the review the go-ahead in August 2018 in response to requests to increase parking controls by community members across the city, in order to tackle non-residential parking.
Splitting Edinburgh into geographical areas, the review aimed to identify areas of parking pressure and prioritise measures designed to alleviate these pressures.
Approval has been given to begin initial design and consultation for proposed controls around Leith Walk and Gorgie/Shandon, which were identified as experiencing the greatest parking pressures. The final results of the review were reported to Thursday’s committee, with recommendations based on findings from across the city.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Macinnes, said: “This review has been in response to concerns from communities across the city, who feel that a lack of parking controls in their area is having a real impact on their ability to park near their own homes.

“Parking controls can not only benefit these residents but can encourage those travelling into the city to consider alternative, sustainable modes of transport. By looking at the entire city, including all satellite towns and villages, this review takes a strategic, proactive approach to increasing parking pressures, rather than focusing on pockets near the city centre.”

Recommended parking controls include introducing Controlled Parking Zones, Priority Parking Areas or for further monitoring to be carried out and follow extensive surveys and assessment across the entire city.

The council plans to implement controls in a phased approach, based on the degree of parking pressure as well as previous commitments and committee decisions, on an area-by-area basis.
The initial design of proposals to tackle parking issues identified will be immediately followed by an extensive consultation exercise including all of the affected stakeholders during each of the phases. In addition, further monitoring exercises will be put in place, designed to assess any impacts on adjacent areas before, during and after the implementation of controls.
Consideration has been given to the impact of factors such as new developments and coinciding transport projects, such as active travel improvements, and additional monitoring will be carried out in relation to this.
The results of each of the consultations and monitoring will be reported back to Transport and Environment Committee as the project moves forward, with further recommendations on additional measures designed to address parking pressures being made as required.
Telford was the lowest ranked neighbourhood to be recommended for CPZ, but the report explains: ‘It’s proximity to to Western General and the significant likelihood that displaced parking from the Fettes area (also earmarked for CPZ remedial treatment) could simply migrate to this area, justify it’s inclusion on the list.’
The report goes on: ‘Priority Parking Areas have been successful elsewhere but it has not provided the same level of improvement in the Telford area. This may be in part due to the low take-up of permits.’
Read the full report, Strategic Review of Parking – Review Results for Areas 4 and 5 and Proposed Implementation Strategy.
WARNING: Don’t print off the above report unless you really have to – it certainly is a comprehensive report but it runs to a hefty 232 pages!
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davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer