Parking consultation outcome awaited

RESIDENTS of St Thomas Street, Wells, are awaiting the outcome of a consultation about a residents’ parking scheme.

Somerset Council has been gauging opinion on the possible introduction of permits for people who live on the street, following a similar consultation in Tor Street where a proposal to introduce resident parking is being prepared.

Michael Shaw says a large number of people are in favour of resident parking in St Thomas Street, where he lives, to help tackle the parking and traffic issues they face every day.

“Parking is very problematic and has worsened after permits were started in the College Road and Stoberry Avenue area,” he said.

He said that cars park on double yellow lines resulting in traffic on pavements: “Traffic wardens don’t come up here, so it’s chaos quite often.”

He said that 87 residents have responded to the council in favour of the permits, although others are opposed, mainly on grounds of cost.

Somerset Council says that a first resident permit costs £60 per year, a second permit is £100 per year, a visitor permit is £60 per year and daily visitor permits are 30p each.

Simon Gibbons is another who lives on St Thomas Street and is in favour of residents’ parking. He said that the traffic has got a lot worse in the three years that he, his wife and family have lived there, and that the parking on the street is “a complete lottery”.

“Residents are now in a position where when you get a parking space, you don’t want to leave it in case there is nowhere to park when you return,” he said.

He said that congestion on the road – especially if vehicles park on yellow lines – means that cars, lorries and buses sometimes mount the pavement to get past, and that he has seen car wing mirrors hit people on the pavement.

“Fewer people trying to park would free up more space to enable passing of vehicles,” he said.

“It would also be helpful to have CCTV on the street given the number of collisions that happen with parked cars where the culprits just drive off.”

Dennis Michelson and his wife have lived on the street for more than two years and have expressed their support for residents’ parking.

“It’s clearly a problem for residents and we hope that this goes forward,” said Dennis.

A recent planning application to convert a coach house off St Thomas Street into offices for up to 14 people has added to concerns for some people.

John Armitage, who lives next to the coach house, said that not only is the proposed development not in keeping with the area, but as there is no on-site parking, those travelling to the offices by car would almost certainly try to park locally.

“Residents are saying that this will increase the traffic congestion along St Thomas Street and further restrict the already limited parking, especially with the likely introduction of a residential parking scheme on Tor Street,” he said.

Documents with the planning application say that there will be one parking space, adding that the site has excellent public transport links, and the proposal would not result in any significant harm to the wider highways network.

Supporters of a permit scheme in St Thomas Street acknowledge that it would have a knock-on effect elsewhere in Wells as motorists seek alternative places to park, and there is a feeling that parking should be looked at across the city as a whole.

Tessa Munt, a Somerset Council councillor for Wells, said that residents’ parking is something that she is asked about constantly, and that opinion is divided on introducing a scheme in St Thomas Street.

She said: “I’ve been contacted by almost equal numbers of St Thomas Street residents in favour, and against, introducing residents’ parking permits.

“Over the last six years, I have been asked repeatedly by citizens about residents’ parking in street after street after street in Wells.

“We know our public transport system doesn’t serve our rural communities or our city well enough, which means we must often rely on cars for transport in and out of the city.

“If these residents’ parking schemes were all to become a reality over time, eventually only those who can walk or cycle into the city, or a relative few who live outside the city and are willing to pay to park here will be able to use our high street shops, businesses, city facilities, attractions and services. That may imperil each of them and the popularity and stability of Wells.

“I’m glad that my colleague Councillor Mike Rigby, who oversees decisions about parking, has called for a pause and re-think on any new residents’ parking schemes.

“There will be a survey sent to every home in Wells and the surrounding villages asking for locals’ opinions on parking, amongst other highways matters.

“I hope Wells’ citizens will let us know what they think by returning that survey complete with information about what they care about most.”

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: “Following receipt of a petition from residents of Tor Street and further consultation, a proposal to introduce resident parking is being prepared.

“We have also undertaken consultation with residents of St Thomas Street. An update is being prepared for residents to advise them of the outcome.”