Guildford's residents-only parking plan changes proposed

CHANGES have been proposed to new plans for permit-only parking and restrictions in parts of Guildford.

Surrey County Council (SCC) is proposing  to extend the hours of permit-holders-only parking in the Dene Road area - including Denmark Road and Eastgate Gardens - from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday to a new system running 8.30am to 9pm seven days a week.

It wants to impose parking restrictions at junctions and bends in the St Luke's area and extend the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in Onslow Village from its present boundary to include all roads up to Manor Way's junction with Abbots Close.

But at a meeting of SCC Guildford local committee on Wednesday (March 13) it was decided to amend which roads in Onslow Village will fall within the scheme.

It is proposed to exclude Abbots Close, Highview Road, Powell Close, Windsor Close and most of Manor Way from the CPZ.

Manor Way up to Abbots Close, Bannisters Road, Ellis Avenue, Orchard Road, The Crossways, West Meads, Wilderness Road will all be included in the proposed CPZ extension.

But there was frustration voiced by one resident over plans to include Lichfield Way and Vicarage Gate.

Their inclusion was branded a "ludicrous" decision by the public speaker. He said: "Vicarage Gate and Lichfield Way have got 10 and 35 per cent support for the CPZ. Why are they being included?

"It is not right to include them. Only 10 and 35 per cent are in favour and yet you ignore that."

The proposals will be advertised and will go out to consultation before any final decision can be agreed.

Cllr David Goodwin (Lib Dem, Friary and St Nicholas) said: "I believe that the CPZs should be extended. What I am going to be suggesting is that we actually leave out Wilderness Road and Powell Close because the consultation that has taken place there shows quite clearly the residents are not interested in being in the CPZ . However I feel in a few years time, in my own personal opinion, they will regret that.

"Also I have received representations from many residents in Manor Way and particularly  where it joins the Crossways. They are very supportive not only the controls being brought in but also the CPZ being introduced there as well.

"Quite a few representations have been received from Vicarage Gate, that is a cul-de-sac but there have been parking problems there."

Councillor Tony Phillips (Lib Dem, Onslow) said there was a pressing need for an extended CPZ.

He said: "We do have problems at the moment with commuter parking and residents getting their vehicles out of their drive. We are being pressed to do something about this.

"If we just have the junction improvements that have been mentioned we are going to restrict the parking area for commuter parking with no benefit for the resident.

"With this issue you need the judgment of Solomon because some people want the extension of the CPZ and some don't."

He added: "The proposal is to work up a scheme and carry out the consultation. We won't have a number of questions, we just want one question - 'do you want the scheme or do you not want the scheme?' We will then get a clear mandate or if everybody says 'over my dead body' then we will need to think again. We need one scheme, one proposal, one decision."