Scrutiny panel discusses Mountfields’ resident parking scheme

Members of Shropshire County Council's economy and environment scrutiny panel met last night (25 June) to discuss the results of the first of three consultation stages with residents about a proposed residents parking scheme for Mountfields in Shrewsbury. Contributions were also heard by Anne Chebsy Shropshire County Councillor for Porthill and Judith Williams, Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Councillor for Mountfields.

The panel received a report on the first stage consultation in which 38% of residents responded and of those, 70% were in favour of the proposed scheme. However, the panel agreed that they would like to see a higher proportion of residents responding in the second stage of consultation. Several new methods of communicating the proposed scheme are being discussed to encourage more residents to respond.

As a result of the feedback officers have revised the scheme to provide more parking spaces for residents and more simplified marking and signing. It was also agreed by the panel to reduce non-resident parking to one hour instead of the original proposal for two hours.

Officers have also drafted an alternative scheme which would create a restricted parking zone with designated resident parking areas and hence, reduce the extent of double yellow lines in the Conservation Area.

These proposed changes will be part of the next consultation expected to take place in September. As well as a questionnaire being sent, the two proposed schemes will be presented in a local exhibition, followed by a local scrutiny at which officers will explain the proposals and the Panel will hear the views of residents in person.

Alan Mosley, Chairman of the economy and environment scrutiny panel, said: ”We have heard and taken on board the views of local members and residents. Officers have worked hard to accommodate concerns and we now hope that more residents will get involved in assessing the new alternatives.

“We must take great care with this project, not least because it is a pilot providing information to be used in responding to the large number of requests for similar schemes throughout the county.”

25 June 2008