Less talk & more action approach gets result in Stanmore
Stanmore Combined, the steering group for Stanmore’s Community Plan, has already started to deliver results for the area.
Parking has always been a regular issue for discussion at its meetings, and this was backed up by a survey they carried out in the early part of last year which identified parking as the number one issue for local people.
Following discussions with the City Council’s Traffic Engineers, a number of consultation events were held in June last year at various venues across Stanmore. Residents had the opportunity to help the City Council identify specific areas where parking problems existed.
Through this process, a preferred scheme was identified which involved the introduction of a Traffic Regulation Order. Some objections were received which resulted in some minor amendments to the scheme before a final consultation period of six weeks.
The scheme finally came into force on 9 March 2009. Although the scheme is still relatively new, initial reaction from residents and businesses has been positive.
The introduction of the scheme is just one part of the solution; the other is, of course, to ensure that the new restrictions are enforced.
Scott MacBrayne, Assistant Parking and Travel Concessions Manager at Winchester City Council, said: “Regular patrols will be made by Civil Enforcement Officers as part of their beats. Patrols can also be made by motorcycle to cover wider areas and to enable rapid responses to reported parking contraventions.
The Community Planning Group will continue to monitor the situation and it is likely that Stanmore Combined, in partnership with local Resident Associations, will undertake a review of the situation next year.