For decades the thorny issue of parking in Ruddington has been rumbling on – with various suggestions over the years as to how it might be addressed.
We have an ever increasing number of homes and therefore cars in our village. Many of these new properties are at quite a distance away from the historic village centre, which some residents will not consider walkable. Consequently the number of motorists trying to find spaces to park and shop (or use other services here) is at an all time high.
The introduction of Nottingham’s Workplace Parking Levy in April 2012 didn’t seem to help the situation – with anecdotal evidence that people then started to use our crowded streets to ‘Park ‘n’ Ride’ by utilising our frequent Ruddington Connection (latterly Navy 3) or Green 10 bus services to access the city centre. Most recently this assertion led to a successful campaign by some village centre residents to get daytime ‘permit only’ parking outside their properties on Parkyns Street and Charles Street – a result which has doubtless benefitted them and a handful of nearby businesses (who are allowed permits) but has certainly not helped the plight of those circling our village trying to find a space. Earlier this year Ruddington Parish Council pledged to address the issue of traffic in our village, too. With the spectre of at least another 525 new houses being allowed on Ruddington’s Green Belt this year (all of which would be built some distance away from the centre) it seems some good ideas are needed very soon!
One of the traders who’s been hearing these endless conversations about village parking for many years is Yvonne Summers from Aveda at Eleven on Church Street. She remembers findings which went against the theory that ‘Park ‘n’ Riders’ were Ruddington’s biggest problem.
“A few years ago a little research done (Barbara Breakwell did a little survey) showed that a huge percentage of cars parked in the village were, in actual fact, people who travelled into the village for work based in the village” says Yvonne. “My little salon alone has, at the very least, three staff a day travelling in by car as we all live outside the village. Having a salon is always a hive of chit chat and, after many conversations about parking, I began to realise many residents have driveways that are free of cars during work days!”
A few conversations later and some of Yvonne’s clients began to say her staff would be welcome to use their driveways to park – therefore freeing up spaces for other customers. “Although the idea is in its infancy, I wondered if some kind of ‘parking partner’ scheme could potentially help the village with its continuing parking dilemma? If we could free up some street parking for our much needed footfall and help ease the situation by helping the workforce of the village find a ‘borrow my driveway’ parking space, it could help tremendously.”
Whether there might be some financial gain for residents who offer their vacant driveways for this ‘parking partnership’ would also be up for consideration. Certainly it could be a way of people making their homes appear occupied during the day, as a deterrent to burglars. “Maybe someone could run with the idea and develop it into a feasible parking scheme for people working in the village?” suggests Yvonne. Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) is backing her initiative.
Any resident who may be willing to participate in such a scheme, or with further ideas, is asked to contact RVCP via RuddVillageCP@outlook.com – otherwise to call Ruddington Parish Council on 0115 914 6660 during office hours. At least this brainwave might go some way towards easing the current parking shortage in our busy village centre.
