Minutes:
The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability proposed the recommendation made by the Executive, as referred to in the Executive report of 24 November 2020, in respect of a review of outcomes of the Parking Task and Finish Group. He proposed a motion to support the recommendation. Councillor Bolton seconded the motion.
Councillor Bell said she that she was disappointed that the lobbying for extra parking spaces at the Station Car Park at Watton at Stone had been dropped from the proposals. She highlighted the problems with the car park and said that other options open to other towns such as residents parking zones were not possible in Watton at Stone. She said that the available spaces in the car could be doubled by removing areas of grass verge between the spaces.
Councillor Goldspink said that she was disappointed that Members had not had the chance to discuss the Executive’s thoughts when they had been reviewing the very sensible recommendations of the Task and Finish Group. She said that she fully supported the recommendation for the amendment to the policy regarding residents parking zones.
Councillor Wilson also expressed his support for the very sensible change to the RPZ policy and the benefits for the residents of Bishop’s Stortford All Saints ward in respect of the difficulties with airport parking in the area. Councillor Haysey commented on whether East Herts Council owned the station car park at Watton at Stone.
Councillor Bell said that East Herts Council did not own the land but the original recommendation was that the Council would lobby those that did own the land to expand the provision.
Councillor Haysey said that this was a difficult thing to do and Members had no idea how train and work travel was going to evolve in the next 12 months. She said that the Council should consider this in a balanced way and avoid adding tarmac in place of grass verges as this was not environmentally friendly. She commented on identifying other ways for residents to get to train stations.
Members of the Council had a general debate in respect of public and sustainable transport and the protection of grass verges. Councillor Redfern commented on the importance of balancing the availability of car parking versus ready access to public transport. Councillor Stowe said that prices should be increased in station car parks to discourage parking in favour of more sustainable modes of transport such as electric bikes.
Councillor McAndrew said that long stay car parking had had reduced by 15-20% since the pre COVID-19 period and it had not really increased. One option being considered was converting long stay spaces to short stay to benefit shoppers. He said that commuters were now working from home and when things returned to a sense of normality, fewer people could be commuting to work and a step back should be taken until the position was known in 12 months.
The motion to support the proposal having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, it was declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED – that the amendment in the Residential Parking Zone Policy, as described in paragraph 2.24 and Appendices Ci and Cii, be adopted.