A new experimental scheme is due to be brought in to address the problem of commuter parking in Clarendon Park.
Ward councillors in the area had called on Leicester City Council to look at ways to prevent commuters using residential streets for free, all-day parking.
The area is a short walk from the city centre, and close to employers such as the University of Leicester, Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College as well as businesses on nearby Queens Road and Welford Road.
Unlike previous parking scheme proposals in the area, the latest experimental measures will be limited to a restriction on non-residents parking there between 9.30am and 10.30am on weekdays. It will focus on the streets immediately adjacent to Queen’s Road.
The scheme is designed to stop commuters from outside the area using the streets to park for free all day, but will have less impact on nearby businesses by still enabling customers to park.
The experimental nature of the measures allows council officers to adjust them to meet local needs, or stopping the scheme altogether if residents felt it wasn’t working.
Discussions with local ward councillors and businesses about how such as scheme would work have been taking place over the last few months.
Letters are being sent to residents this week to inform them of the scheme, which would come into effect in February 2021.
Castle ward councillor and Leicester assistant city mayor for policy, delivery and communications, Cllr Danny Myers, said: “Myself and my fellow Castle ward members, Cllr Patrick Kitterick and Cllr Deborah Sangster, had asked council officers to look at how to ease the commuter parking situation in Clarendon Park.
“We know that many commuters park in Clarendon Park and walk the rest of the way to work, leaving their car parked there for free for the whole day.
“Under this new system they won’t be able to do that – if they are unable to return to their cars to move them between 9.30am and 10.30am, they’re unlikely to park there in the first place, meaning the spaces remain available for shoppers, residents and other visitors.”
Cllr Kitterick added: “This new experimental traffic order will be introduced in the streets immediately adjacent to the Queens Road shopping area.
“It has been designed to specifically discourage commuter parking, increase the number of parking spaces available for residents, and ensure there are more spaces for shoppers and other visitors to local businesses throughout the day.”
Similar parking measures are currently in place in Nottingham and London.
To the west of Queens Road, the experimental traffic order in Clarendon Park will include St Leonards Road, Cradock Road, Oxford Road, Edward Road and Montague Road.
East of Queens Road, the scheme will involve Howard Road, Cecilia Road, the remainder of Montague Road, West Avenue, North Avenue, Central Avenue and East Avenue. The northern side of Clarendon Park Road will also be included, as will business and residents in Queens Road itself.
Residents and businesses will be able to give their views on the experimental traffic order during the trial period, which runs from February 1 to August 31, 2021. The scheme can then either be ended, continued, modified or even extended to streets which express an interest in joining the experiment.
Permits will be available to residential and business properties in the area, and people won’t be charged for permits during the trial period. Provision will be made for essential visitors such as carers, as well as Blue Badge holders.
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