I am writing on behalf of York Green Party to support implementation of the R66 proposal in full as a coherent approach, consistent with the council’s latest adopted Transport Strategy. It should be noted that the consultation period fell within the University summer break meaning that many student properties will be empty and thus very unlikely to respond. On that basis alone it would be appropriate to discount registered HMOs from the non response rate calculation.
Secondly the order should be implemented as a whole, since any streets left as pockets of unrestricted parking will quickly become a magnet for residents unwilling to pay for a permit. Residents of Dower Court may want to implement a private permit scheme in parallel for this reason.
The 60min max visitor parking on the south side of Heslington Rd is important for passing trade for local businesses and should be monitored to ensure that spaces are still available for this, if needed excluding residents permit holders from longer term use of these spaces. For longer term parking by any local workers it should be pointed out that public parking is available at Q Park and the increased cost involved would be consistent with council policy to incentive use of public transport and active travel by which the area is well served.
Thirdly I should point out that there are several factors which will add to the pressure on the area and supports the urgency of making this order now:
The recent steep rise in city centre parking charges will mean more workers and visitors looking to park in this area.
The planning application for residential development of the Barbican site if approved will firstly result in contractor/ workers parking in the area and then new residents of the flats.
From this September hundreds more students will move into the two new student blocks on Fishergate with no on site parking and residents parking schemes covering the surrounding streets. The Wellington St area is the nearest remaining area where any staff or students might try to park.
For all these reasons we strongly urge the Executive Member to approve the order in full as a coherent and consistent policy to address the many problems which residents in the area have faced for many years. Once the order has been implemented the council should proactively survey remaining streets outside the scheme with a view to extending it to cover Barbican Mews and Farrar St., using a fit-for-purpose process that doesn’t disadvantage long term residents because of non response from registered HMO student properties in the area. The council does need to implement the process review called for by the council motion passed in 2024.
Andy D’Agorne
Transport spokesperson
