Agenda item

To consider a report by the Executive Director of Place.

The Committee considered a proposal concerning changes to the resident parking permit in Zones A & C of the Park District Area of Weymouth, Dorset.

The Service Manager for Parking Services gave a presentation to members and three of the written statements received from members of the public were read out at the meeting. All of the written statements that were received are attached as an appendix to these minutes.

Cllr Jon Orrell - Dorset Council - Melcombe Regis, addressed the committee concerning the central issue of too many permits for the number of parking spaces in the area.  He considered that the recommendations were the right balance as they gave residents the opportunity to park near their homes as well as a nearby parking area for guest house and hotel guests.

Members asked whether it would be possible to extend use of the Swannery Car Park to residents who were unable to find a space in the residential area; whether the number of electric charging points could be increased and the duration of the Covid testing area in the car park.

They were informed that a current review of parking permits sought to address the principle of use of nearby car parks by resident permit holders; that increasing the number of electric charging points would be fed back to the electric vehicle project team and that the Covid testing site would be moved to an alternative location in the Weymouth area at the start of the Summer period.

A proposal to include Lodmoor Car Park in addition to Swannery Car Park for visitors staying in guesthouses and hotels in the permit area was supported by the Committee.

Proposed by Cllr John Worth, seconded by Cllr Susan Cocking.

Decision: That having considered the representations received, in response to public advertisement, that the Committee be recommended to support the proposed changes to the Park District area residents parking permit zones A and C as follows:

i) That establishments within the Zones A & C areas of Weymouth identified as Hotels, Guest Houses, Holiday Homes and Air B & B’s be provided with a like for like allocation of permits (should they wish to purchase them) for the Swannery Car Park and Lodmoor Car Park. Guests visiting these establishments will still be able to park outside the property to drop off their luggage and check-in before receiving a permit and re-positioning their vehicle into the Swannery Car Park.

ii) That all residential establishments be restricted to a maximum of 2 permits per household. All units in Houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) would need to be considered individually for the purpose of allocation.

iii) That residential properties with private driveways be excluded from the scheme or set at a maximum of one, subject to point ii) being agreed.

iv) That the one-hour maximum wait is confined only to the periods between 9am – 6pm, thereby allowing visitors to businesses to continue, with residents only and no one-hour wait between the hours of 6pm and 9am.

Reason for Decisions: To increase available parking spaces for residents

who live in the Park District resident parking permit zones A and C area. It is considered that the benefits of the scheme outweigh the potential impacts on local businesses, from continuing with 1-hour wait bays and providing car parking for holiday accommodation guests at the Swannery Car Park at no extra cost.