16/09/2023
Good evening
Indeed the parking scheme is proving particularly difficult for businesses and the County Council’s solutions have been generally unhelpful.
I understand their logic that it’s a residents parking scheme, so it prioritises residents parking - but it needs more nuance than their policy dictates, as it feels like businesses based directly within the zone are being hung out to dry.
Firstly however, in terms of the patient parking, hopefully it should be easier for them to park if they visit by car. Most of the roads around Hewlett (Leighton, Duke, Fairview etc) are all marked with CH2.2 bays. Someone without a permit can park in them for 2 hours for free – and there should be less regular commuter parking during the day now, so more spaces available.
You can see the map here which explains all the different bays and restrictions across the zone:https://ehq-production-europe.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/19d5364d03785cdc9120a8bd1ecf84edb299b636/original/1688023219/bc11b91b829c18586ccf9c402e5c8d11_Cheltenham_Overview_For_Legal_v3.pdf
Might be worth printing a copy out to keep in work for patients who ask where to park?
In terms of business/employee parking however, this is where the scheme is a nightmare. The solutions GCC present are simply unfeasible for a lot of people.
I have asked GCC to provide employee permits specifically for businesses based within zone 15, but this can’t be applied to zone 15 only and requires their administration to change policy county wide. I am pushing for this, but even if they do it’ll take time.
On a more long term look, the 12 month review might give us an opportunity to get the 12 hour free permits for certain areas like the zone 14 by the train station has. But again, not something that’ll happen soon.
I’m desperate to find a solution to this for the local businesses in zone 15, but GCC seem hell bent on making it as difficult as possible to do so. I will keep pushing them as much as I can.
In the interim, other than parking outside the zone and walking in, I’ve been thinking about what car parks may be closer if employees can afford that unfortunate expense. St James Street is closest but £13/day, Town Centre East (the multi storey by the storage facility) is £8/day so a little more affordable.
I’m sorry I don’t have an immediate solution for this, I truly wish I did. But I will continue to do what I can to pressure GCC and get us to a better place
Kind regards
Izaac Tailford
Councillor All Saints Ward
Cheltenham Borough Council
