My Ref:

TIW/RC/NRG/27235
Your Ref:
Date:

18th January 2007

jonathan@jonathanbishop.org.uk

Dear Mr Bishop
Freedom of Information Act 2000: Request for Information relating to
Resident Parking
I refer to your letter dated 15th January 2007 and would respond as follows.
The purpose of the resident parking schemes provided by the Council is to
reserve a percentage of road space exclusively for use by residents where
parking conditions are particularly heavy, for example, where it is caused by
commuters of shoppers. They are not used as a mechanism to remove all
non-residential parking from a particular street. Resident only parking bays
are provided at the rate of 50% of available parking space , for the period
8am - 10pm daily, and the remaining space can be used by any person.
Regarding the specific points you raised I can advise you:
1. What consultation was held on the parking schemes currently in use?
Schemes are considered on an individual street basis. These proposals are
usually identified when residents make written application to the Council for
consideration of a resident parking scheme, from the local Member or as a
result of a trend identified within this service area.
Consultation takes the form of our statutory obligations with local Members
and the public in the form of an advertisement in the Western Mail and notices
placed on site for a four week period. No individual contact is made with
residents.
2. How is the issue of parking required for people who attend local universities
dealt with?
No specific parking provision is made for people attending university.
However if students are resident in an area which has resident parking then
they would be eligible to apply for a parking permit.

PLEASE REPLY TO: Transport, Infrastructure and Waste, Room 301,

County Hall, Cardiff CF10 4UW
Tel: (029)20873256 Fax: (029)20873302
email: TIW-CH@cardiff.gov.uk

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3. Are there a fixed number of parking permits per house?

There are no restrictions on the number of permits that are issued to a
household, and all residents are entitled to apply for a permit.
4. Are the number of permits issued limited to the number of spaces
available?
No, there are no controls on the number of permits that are issued. There is
no road space allocation and therefore there are no guarantees that permit
holders will be able to park within a resident parking bay.

5. What provisions are made for disabled drivers living in or visiting the area?
Residents who are Blue Badge Holders may make application for the
provision of a Disabled Persons' Parking Place. Providing certain criteria are
met a traffic regulation Order proposal is commenced with a view to
introducing such a facility.
Disabled bays that are positioned outside a private house are intended for the
use of an applicant but remain a community facility and therefore may be
utilised by any blue badge holder. Blue badge visitors may make use of their
badge and park where it is legal and safe to do so.
6. What provisions are made for parking by commercial premises by
consumers?
If a number of commercial properties are in close proximity, this Authority may
consider the introduction of a Goods Vehicles Loading Bay and if the
properties are in the vicinity of double yellow lines we do generally permit
loading and unloading at specific times. We do not provide specific facilities
for commercial properties. If the properties are regional shopping areas
consideration may be given to time limited controls.
7 Are there fixed times or charge for length of time a parking space is used?
Resident parking permits are valid for one year and a scale of annual charges
applies. There is no limit to the length of time a resident parking space can
be used by a vehicle displaying a permit, and there is no charge for this
parking other than the annual cost of the permit. Voucher parking schemes
operate within the city centre where drivers are charged for short term and
long term stay and must display scratch card vouchers . There are also many
areas of limited waiting throughout the county which control the duration of
parking, but without charge.

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8. Are there different provisions for people working in the area?.

If the road in question is a public highway, all members of the public have
equal rights in law to make use of the roads even if it is only to park whilst at
work. Residents have no greater rights to use the road in which they live
thanany other person. No specific parking provisions are made for people
working in a particular area.
Hospitals, Universities and many other large places of employment are doing
much to discourage employees and visitors from commuting to work using
private vehicles and are encouraging the use of sustainable and public
transport. Parking charges on their own property are one way of achieving this
and it encourages commuters to car share. However, Councils have no
jurisdiction over these car parking policies.
I trust that the above information will be of assistance to you.
Yours sincerely

Neil Godfrey
For Chief Transport, Infrastructure and Waste Officer