Surrey Parking Review Proposals: Have Your Say Online or in Writing

Online feedback form link: https://www.surreysays.co.uk/environment-and-infrastructure/spelthorne-parking-review-2023/

At this stage, Surrey are intending to introduce the restrictions and controls described, but are inviting representations to be made by the public before doing so to help decide whether they should definitely go ahead. Once the proposals have been advertised SCC can introduce them unchanged, make minor modifications to them before introducing them, or cancel them entirely. Any comments that lead to a requirement for major changes would usually mean cancellation of the proposal and subsequent reconsideration of it in a future parking review.

This approach means the parking review can progress in the most efficient way thereby maximising value for local residents.

If you wish to comment on, object to, or support any of the proposals you must do so either online or in writing between 5 July to 2 August 2024 (**new dates due to General Election**). Alternatively, please write to ‘Spelthorne Parking Review 2023’, Parking Team, Hazel House, Merrow Lane, Guildford, GU4 7BQ. A formal notice will be published in the Surrey Advertiser; street notices erected on site at each location and letter delivered to any properties immediately fronting the proposed changes; plus drawings and a statement of reasons being available to view online. More information about how to do this is available on Surrey’s Parking news and updates in Spelthorne webpage, here.

➡️Here’s the link to Surrey’s Parking news and updates – Spelthorne⬅️
➡️Here’s the link to Surrey’s Parking Reviews⬅️
➡️Here’s the link to Surrey’s Parking Reviews – Spelthorne⬅️
➡️How the Staines Parking Review Impacts You⬅️

The current free 2 hour free limited waiting period has been in effect and unchanged in Ashford Town Centre for several decades, and so too has the waiting restriction (single yellow line) layout. With Ashford railway station having direct links to London, the town attracts commuters from a much wider area, and as Ashford does not have the same quantity of parking restrictions and car park provision as Staines, commuters are more often able to find on-street space within the vicinity of the railway station. Unfortunately, this has included the use of some of the many 2 hour limited waiting bays located around the town, leading to overstay by several hours. Combined with additional overstaying vehicles belonging to other groups of drivers, such as those working in the town and possibly some residents as well, space for shoppers has been greatly reduced over the years.

The 2 hour restriction was specifically introduced for shoppers and other short term visits to the town, and the total number of spaces more than meets this demand, but only when they are being properly adhered to. The enforcement of free limited waiting periods is challenging and requires significant costs and employed staff to target such areas over several hours. Where it’s important to ensure on-street parking space is available and not used for long periods of time by the same drivers, the most cost effective and sustainable approach is the introduction of paid parking, where the investment from drivers to stay for a defined period discourages overstay and drastically reduces the costs to enforce overstay. In shopping areas where businesses rely on on-street parking space to accommodate customers, a reasonable charging scheme ensures customers have the best possible chance at finding an available space and therefore being more likely to return and choose these businesses again in the future.

It is therefore proposed to introduce paid parking on all existing free 2 hour limited waiting bays located on Church Road, Knapp Road, Woodthorpe Road, Clarendon Road and Station Approach, to ensure that these bays are actually used for their intended purpose, which will see significant improvements to the town in terms of the ability of people to visit and continue to visit.

Why Surrey believe the current 2hours free parking can’t be enforced – independentspelthornegroup.co.uk/efficient-parking-review-proposals

All existing disabled parking bays will remain free and unchanged
➡️Spelthorne’s Blue Badge Disabled Parking Information⬅️

The times will remain the same: (Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm) with a max stay of 2 hours. Parking outside of these days and hours will be free.

Tariff :
Pay by Cash: 50p for 30 minutes / £1 for up to 2 hours.
Pay by Phone: 62p for 30 minutes / £1.12 for up to 2 hours.
*There is a service charge of 12p applied to this option

The tariff has been selected to ensure that such a scheme is financially viable for Surrey County Council, as there are costs associated with the day to day running of paid parking schemes, such as money collection, machine maintenance and increased but more efficient patrols. However, the tariff chosen is low enough to not discourage existing or new shoppers from visiting Ashford town centre.

To supplement these proposed changes within the town centre, it is also proposed to convert the existing single yellow lines (no waiting Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm) to double yellow lines, within the streets listed above but only where shown on drawings 2023-21, 2023-22 and 2023-23. All these locations that currently have this single yellow line waiting restrictions are not suitable for parking at any time, as the parking is either obstructive to through traffic, sight lines or to pedestrians if taking place partly on footways. No waiting at any time is a far more suitable restriction for all of these locations, and will keep parking only within the parking bay areas at all times, including before and after the 7am to 7pm paid period. Having double yellow lines will also greatly reduce the amount of signage needed within the town centre and will see a reduction in both signs and signposts.

The existing ’no loading’ restriction currently in place alongside the single yellow lines will remain in place and will continue to be signed and marked on the kerbs but alongside the double yellow lines instead. Loading and unloading will continue unchanged within the town centre.

Finally, it is proposed to introduce an ‘electric vehicles recharging point‘ Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm 4 hours max stay’ restriction on the existing electric vehicle bays and charging points located on Woodthorpe Road outside 23 to 29. This will ensure that these bays are only used by electric vehicle drivers who are charging their vehicles during these days and times and will help the council and the government to meet its climate change objectives. This location supplements the current electric vehicle recharging points located on the eastern end of Church Road, by providing chargers in the western end of the town centre as well.

Overall, it is believed that this redesign of all the on-street parking restrictions in Ashford town centre has been long overdue and will help to encourage growth of the town and its businesses for many years to come.