Issue - meetings

Purpose of Report

To consider the public response to the proposed disabled bay in Apsley Road, Portsmouth.

Recommendations

In relation to the proposal promoted under TRO 166B/2022, it is recommended that the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation:

1.    Approves the implementation of the Disabled Persons' Parking Bay in Apsley Road (alongside Charles Clark House);

2.    Notes that the remainder of TRO 166/2022 came into operation under TRO 166A/2022 on 8 November 2022, due to no objections being received to those proposals.  Therefore, any proposal approved following this report will be brought into operation under TRO 166B/2022.

Kevin McKee, Parking Operations Manager presented the report.

Denise Bastow, Parking Office Manager, read out a deputation from a local resident, objecting to the proposals.

I have received notice that a decision relating to the creation of a new disabled bay on the eastern side of Apsley Road outside Charles Clark House will be taken on 19th January.

I have been in contact with Amanda Clayton, who raised several points in defence of the proposal to create a further disabled bay in this small area.

As you know, Apsley Road has parking restrictions on match days, rendering the western side of the road unusable.  There are at present 4 disabled parking bays on the eastern side of the road, and your proposal would increase this number to 5.  This would make parking in even our licensed areas more problematic on these days than is already the case.

I  have no expectation of being able to park in front of my property, often walking a fairly long way with heavy shopping etc. to get from my car to my house; but as I say, being able to park at all within the parking zone on match days remains an issue.

While I have the utmost sympathy for those with mobility problems, it is apparent that this restriction is now even more limiting for other residents of this road.

Even if my objection has no effect, I would like the Council to consider that there is still a special problem on these roads (Apsley, Carisbrooke and Frogmore). Therefore, if I am still entitled to do so, I maintain my objection to this proposal.

Member's questions

In response to member's questions, officers clarified:

·         To qualify for a disabled parking bay, the applicant must live in Portsmouth, have no access to off street parking and there must be a car registered to that household.

·         There was no off-street parking available to the block of flats in which the resident resided.

·         The resident was already parking in Apsley Road with their blue badge - the application was not introducing another vehicle into the area.

Members agreed with the recommendations.

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation:

1.    Approved the implementation of the Disabled Persons' Parking Bay in Apsley Road (alongside Charles Clark House);

2.    Noted that the remainder of TRO 166/2022 came into operation under TRO 166A/2022 on 8 November 2022, due to no objections being received to those proposals. Therefore, any proposal approved following this report, will be brought into operation under TRO 166B/2022.