Following further complaints from villagers about not being able to park near their homes, a consultation is underway about creating additional ‘residents only’ parking areas near Ruddington village centre.
Via East Midlands, working on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council Highways, says it sent out letters and questionnaires to residents in 33 properties over the summer asking if they would like residents parking restrictions along part of Easthorpe Street. It reveals a total of 13 questionnaires were returned (40%) of which 10 (77%) supported a Residents Parking Scheme (RPS).
The Council’s criteria for the consideration of a RPS is for 35% of the questionnaires to be returned and of these 65% to be in favour. As the returns from the residents meets the criteria, the next stage of the process is now underway to formally consult on the proposals to introduce a RPS – which would be in operation Monday to Saturday 9am – 10pm. The draft proposals are shown on the street map below.
The properties eligible for permits under the plan are those without off-street parking (illustrated above with a red border) including Widdowsons Row and Easthorpe Cottages. However, The Three Crowns is also located on that stretch (top photo), and has no dedicated parking of its own.
Pub licensee John Noble comments: “It all sounds good in principle to the home owners, but for the business it’s not good news. However, I must add that if everyone who was entitled to apply for a permit did so, paid their fee and received it there would not be enough spaces for even a quarter of cars with permits in the controlled zone. I see it as an absolute waste of money; you pay the fee and you’re still not going to be able to park your car near your home. We don’t open until after 5pm and even in the daytime the streets are completely full.”
John suggests: “They should spend their money on better things, like creating a small car park for the residents on the mini piece of grass and the bottom of Pear Tree Orchard. It’s owned by Nottingham City Council. It’s only used by people with their dogs, there are plenty more pieces of grass around for dogs to do their business on! If that was developed it would create at least 10 spaces – 12 spaces if marked out on the diagonal.”
Among the other initial consultees is Ruddington Parish Council, which is discussing the idea at its monthly meeting tonight (10th October), when villagers attending also get the opportunity to have their say. Any suggested changes to the scheme during this initial stage could be made before the wider public consultation begins.
Highway Improvements Co-Ordinator, Steph Walford, advises: “The introduction of a residents’ parking scheme would allow residents to continue parking on street, but would prevent long-term non-residential parking. Parking by residents and their visitors would be controlled by permits. However, a permit would not guarantee a space directly outside a person’s property and at busy times may not guarantee a space within the controlled area.”
She adds: “Permits would cost £38 each (reviewed annually) and will usually be valid for 12 months, with 100% discount concessions for Blue Badge Holders and residents 75 years old and over.”
A similar Residents Parking Scheme has been in operation on Charles Street and Parkyns Street since 2019, and was an unpopular move among some shoppers and visitors for reducing available daytime parking options. Just eighteen months’ ago new parking restrictions were also introduced on nearby Cumberland Close, following residents’ complaints there.
When the official public consultation begins for this latest scheme, we’ll let you know here at RUDDINGTON.info.
