Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council 23 February 2021 Parking Policy Background In the last 12 months Town Council Members and Officers have considered local parking problems in the context of enforcement of existing regulations, problems caused by reduction of on-street parking due to social distancing measures introduced by the Highways Authority, partial closure of the public car park behind Bletchley Library to make provision for Covid testing, temporary closure of the Leisure Centre car park, complaints about inadequate parking and abuse of parking spaces from residents, destruction of verges and many planning applications (including change of use from commercial to residential) with inadequate parking provision, damage to pavements and services caused by pavement parking in Queensway, persistent parking and driving on Chandos Place, abuse of parking spaces in Fenny Stratford and poor maintenance of public and private car parks across the parish. In the summer the soft and hard road closures in Queensway highlighted parking issues even further and the Town Council received very mixed feedback from the community. Some residents/businesses were happy to see parts of Queensway effectively pedestrianised whilst others were horrified by any reduction in vehicle access and advocated reducing pavement size and increasing existing street parking. The Town Council has considered introduction of physical barriers, “topping up” the Saba contract by providing funds to increase MKC’s contracted enforcement and the provision of re-deployable cameras outside schools which can issue tickets remotely. At the time of writing none of these measures has been agreed or introduced by the Town Council for various reasons. It seems clear that effective solutions to parking problems in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford will need to draw on a range of approaches including parking enforcement but also physical provision of adequate spaces through the planning system and long term infrastructure provision, good public transport, driver education and willingness of schools and businesses to encourage appropriate behaviour. The Town Council does not have a resolved general policy position on parking and this lack of a specified resolved position makes it challenging for officers to advocate for the council on parking matters in general. Current Position One approach to addressing parking problems across Bletchley and Fenny Stratford would be to encourage the Town Deal Board to recognise the severity of local concern and to ensure that parking implications are considered at an early stage in relation to all projects within the Town Investment Plan. This approach has been discussed by the Clerk with the Clerk of West Bletchley Town Council and with a representative of the Consortium of Bletchley Residents Associations. The COBRA representative has provided a statement setting out their position on this matter which is attached at the end of this report and the representative has requested that this Town Council takes a policy position on parking. At the last meeting of the Town Deal Board the Clerk of West Bletchley Council gave notice of a recommendation from their Parking Sub-Committee to be considered by West Bletchley Town Council at a meeting on 23 February 2021 as follows “It is recommended that this Council acknowledges the increasing pressure on available parking in the Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Deal Area and seeks a formal commitment from the Town Deal Board to require its partners to engage with local councils and community representatives at the earliest (pre planning) stage of concept/site development to ensure that parking needs are afforded priority at the formulative stages of all Town Deal development proposals.” Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council 23 February 2021 Members of the board gave feedback and whilst there were some comments about tweaks to the wording no significant objections were expressed at this stage. Decision Members of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council are now also asked to consider “acknowledging the increasing pressure on parking in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford and asking the Town Deal Board to require its partners to engage with local councils and community representatives at the earliest (pre-planning) stage of concept/site to ensure that parking needs are given full consideration at the formative stages of all Town Deal development proposals.” It seems difficult to adopt a generic parking policy for the whole of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council at this stage but work on the Neighbourhood Plan may result in evidence on which a more detailed policy position could be taken in the future. Delia Shephard Town Clerk 18 February 2021 Statement from Cobra Member of Town Deal Board received 12 February 2021 Town Investment Plan - Statement Following the last Town Deal meeting, at a constructive meeting with the Clerks of both Bletchley Councils, COBRA requested that their respective councils agree a joint strategy regarding parking issues to enable us to influence the Town Deal Board to take account of: . how parking and/or any traffic related issues must be a priority in the early stages of any future developments agreed by the Board, bearing in mind the current lack of adequate parking provision in the Bletchley & Fenny areas, and . the need to engage with the community on this thorny issue. Parking issues might be regarded as falling into 2 categories – Private or Public. For example: o Private are those that relate to, primarily, residents’ parking issues, and o Public relates to, for instance, commuter parking outside designated car parking areas or existing lack of adequate parking provision for colleges, businesses, or hospitality purposes The proposed new developments under the Town Investment Plan – the IOT, the Technology Park, the Innovation and Transport Hubs, the enlarged Rail Station to include East/West Rail & Bletchley Park – will greatly increase the need for suitable Public Parking Provision in West Bletchley, in its position as the new Transport and Technology Hub. The Town Deal Questionnaire Survey Feedback Summary last year included: 1. Poor quality of public realm (Bletchley especially) – littering, poorly maintained roads, and parking areas: 2. Address car parking – enforce illegal parking and plan for more car parks, especially if the Sainsburys store car park is lost 3. Its independence from Milton Keynes plus car parking in Bletchley high street which is important for its success and survival Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council 23 February 2021 4. Not enough parking since the multi-storey was knocked down meaning people shop elsewhere 5. Enforce parking regulations, targeting those who park on footpaths and yellow lines During the formulation of the West Bletchley Neighbourhood Plan, parking was recorded as being an issue. Since then, West Bletchley Council has set up a Parking Sub-Committee, chaired by Ward Councillor Elaine Wales, and includes fellow Board Member, Parish Councillor Ian Revell. It has also employed a Parking Education Officer. Ward Councillors Long and Rankin have also been involved with West Bletchley parking matters, and I understand that Cabinet Member and East Bletchley Ward Councillor Darlington and Town Councillor Ethan Kelly-Wilson have similarly been involved in the B&FSTC area. Future Policy Notwithstanding the need to reduce the number of vehicles and our carbon footprint, Parking Standards must be realistic: o Members of the public, workers and residents will continue to use their vehicles for many years to come. o The proximity to nearby rail and bus links should not be a basis for allowing inadequate parking provision for both residential and commercial development and needs to be reflected in future Parking Standards. For instance, the proposed Albert Street development includes 184 residential properties but only 160 parking spaces which does not comply with current Parking Standards. There is no provision for commercial vehicle parking. o In the case of paid parking provision, the cost must be reasonable - why pay £6 per day at Bletchley Rail Station, when you can park for free in nearby residential areas! o Despite the reluctance by MK Council to increase parking provision in the Bletchley area, this stance has not been applied to Central Milton Keynes which was designed with the motorist in mind and where there has always been plenty of parking provision, and even more recently completed or under construction, despite the proximity of public transport! Angie Ravn-Aagaard BPARA Representative of West Bletchley Council Parking Sub-Committee Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Deal Board Member representing COBRA 12 February 2021 .