The Stratford-upon-Avon Society generally welcomes the introduction of decriminalised parking enforcement in the town. In this statement, we would like to commend the good points of the present system, but would also like to highlight certain aspects that, in our view, need to be amended as soon as possible.

First for the good points. The parking situation in Residential Parking zones has improved beyond our wildest expectations since introduction of decriminalisation. Residents have at last been able to re-claim their streets from the long-stay visitors and commuters. We have furthermore not yet been invaded by any significant number of shoppers taking advantage of the 2-hour free period permitted in Residents Parking zones. This must be kept under review to make sure that shoppers do not gradually start creeping into Residential Parking zones.

The traffic situation in the town has also improved. Drivers can now nearly always find an on-street parking space in the town and the traffic that used to circulate endlessly around Bridge Street seems to have reduced significantly.

But there are some features of the new system that are not working as well as we had hoped. We always knew that the new arrangements would adversely affect the Bed & Breakfast operators and said so in the paper that the Society prepared on Residents Parking in 2002. We welcome the recommended changes that the County is proposing to introduce to deal with this issue and urge the District Council to implement them as soon as possible.

Our members are also concerned about Sunday charging. Not only does it adversely affect the churches in the town, it is also anti-competitive. It places Stratford at a measurable disadvantage in relation to its regional competitors. We would like the County to consider two possible changes to current arrangements. First, abolish all Sunday charging before 10.00 am, since this could be done immediately and has no revenue implications. Second, to abolish all on-street charges on Sundays and public holidays. The length of stay could remain at 2-hours, but it would be free and it would be complemented by a 2-hour free period in all off-street car parks. Since this requires a change in the traffic regulations, it would take longer to implement and the financial model would have to be re-run to examine the financial impact of the proposed change.

We are also concerned about the Council’s poor Public Relations. Tradesmen – who need to work within the controlled zones – are not generally aware that they can purchase special licenses that permit them to park in Residential Parking zones and in on-street pay-and-display areas. Likewise, many people believe that parking in the town is restricted to either 20 minutes, or 1-hour (the figure of 1-hour was quoted on Midlands TV), while others are under the impression that on-street patrolling stops at 06.00 pm and that they are then free to park in restricted areas, like a taxi rank. This disinformation demonstrates that the Council has failed to “sell” the new arrangements to the public. Visitors can park for as long as they like in off-street car parks, can park for either 1-hour or 2-hour on-street (depending on where they are) and the enforcement of the traffic regulations continues until well after 06.00 pm. The council urgently needs to provide better information about the new parking regime. They need to do so via the press, on the web and by way of a comprehensive brochure We are delighted that the Council is now responding to these concerns and is proposing to imminently publish some of the above information in the local press.

Finally, although I have seen some outstanding examples of best practice in relation to parking enforcement, I have also seen some examples of inappropriate heavy-handedness. I do not have time to give details at this meeting, but I would urge the Council to adopt an enforcement regime that is tailored to what is “acceptable” in a visitor town like Stratford.

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