Parking could be about to change for the better in the Park District – that’s the hope of Dorset Council and residents alike.
Following a petition by local residents frustrated with parking conditions in the Park District, Dorset Council is inviting people with parking permits in Zones A and C to share their views on the future of their permit scheme.
Residents are being asked to have their say on a range of permit-related questions, including if there should be free permits for ‘green’ vehicles, if they would pay more for a permit that covered parking in a car park, removing one-hour spaces and restricting business parking permits.
Residents will also be asked if they think incremental charges should be brought in, with each additional car permit costing more.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Cabinet member for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:
“Earlier this year, residents put together a petition about the parking situation in the Park District area of Weymouth, and we recognise that our policy hasn’t kept pace with the growth of cars on the road or number of cars per household.
“We know that residents may have different views to businesses in the area so, as well as asking residents in these permit zones, we will also be talking with hoteliers in the area.
“Please fill in the survey as your views will shape the future of on-street permit parking in this area.”
For anyone unable to access the online survey, members of the parking services team will be available at the Park District Community Centre, Chelmsford Street from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 22 October and Tuesday 5 November.
Cllr Jon Orrell, elected member for the Melcombe Regis ward, said: “We recognise there is a supply and demand issue; with a significant difference in the number of spaces available and the number of people wishing to park their cars.
“I’m pleased that residents are being asked what they think. If you have an opinion on parking this is the chance to make your views and concerns heard.”
The survey is available for seven weeks from Friday 11 October to Sunday 1 December.
We would like a proper residents meeting to be held, where we can ask questions and receive honest answers in a transparent way. We have been requesting this from Jon Orrell for some time, and was promised a public meeting with Dorset Council
The public meetings are at Park District Community Centre, Chelmsford Street from 10am to 4pm on Tuesday 22 October and Tuesday 5 November. I will be there from 2pm.
Whilst I commiserate with the difficult parking conditions in Weymouth please consider smaller towns where holiday makers take up what little space available leaving locals without any where to park unless they can afford hundreds of pounds for a rented space. I speak of Corfe Castle. The only answer I was offered was to approach a local charity. I found that a rather demeaning cop-out.
it would be more appropriate to enable the timing of these meetings at a time more suitable for the majority of the residents affected, namely those people who have to work for a living and so are not likely to be able to attend.
The main problems here are the lack of spaces as there are far too many permits issued and yet also there is much scope to alter the parking bays to increase their total such as extending the number of angled bays in Ranelagh rd . also motorcycles could be given separate spaces which should be free to encourage their use and thereby freeing otherwise taken spaces. lastly unless there are enforcement agents especially late afternoon to evening then all is a waste of time. we rarely see wardens here at these times. I resent paying for permits when there is poor enforcement. there is nothing worse than driving round and round in the evening trying to park, yet it seems ok for the local taxis to park willy nily all around the area when they pay nothing. also why should the local hotelliers expect the council to provide parking spaces for their customers, no other business are afforded such luxuries. it would appear to me that they are much favoured
The vehicle in this photograph (Weymouth parking permits under review October 9, 2019) is clearly illegally parked. Has action been taken against the driver?
Why not display the registration plate, that might stop some from doing this sort of thing including from parking on pavements and leaving no space for pedestrians.
I have seen many articles in the Bournemouth Echo recently where registration plates are made clearly visible.