Lincoln council looks to expand resident parking zones

A scheme which looks to reduce the amount of traffic on city centre roads while freeing up parking for residents by getting them to pay for the privilege could soon be expanded.

The City of Lincoln Council’s executive committee is set to examine plans to set up new and expanded Residents Parking Scheme zones  which see households pay £26 a year for their first permit and £52 for a second.

The initial two phases would include 129 properties across eight streets in the areas of uphill Lincoln, from Newport Arch to Westgate in the Bailgate area.

A report before councillors on Monday, September 24, will outline a third phase of 3,977 properties across 76 streets.

It will also note that other areas of the city, including the St Catherine’s and Newark Road areas, could be looked at in the longer term.

The report says: “Over the last few years public comment has led officers to the view that there is now a groundswell of opinion in support of an expansion of Residents’ Parking Schemes in some areas of Lincoln.”

A number of benefits are reported including decreasing circulating traffic looking for free parking spaces by up to 30%, and stopping shoppers and commuters using residential streets.

It notes that the current set-up has been on an ad hoc basis.

“This ‘patchwork’ means that there isn’t comprehensive cover in all areas close to the city centre, so as a result there are still options for some car owners to park relatively close to the city centre, often in residential areas, and then walk to work.”

The proposed first two phases of the scheme.

The roads to be included as new or existing zones in the first two phases are:

• Union Road
• Burton Road
• Chestnut Street
• Church Lane (north side only)
• Newport
• Northgate (north side only)
• James Street
• Bailgate

Where the third phase of the scheme could cover if it gets the go-ahead.

The roads proposed to be included in the third phase are:

• Archer Street
• Charles Street
• Chaplin Street
• Chelmsford Street
• Cross Street
• Hermit Street
• Kesteven Street
• King Street
• Lewis Street
• Monson Street
• Palmer Street
• Portland Street
• Ripon Street
• Sincil Bank
• St Andrews Place
• St Andrews Street
• Stanley Place
• Tentercroft Street
• Trollope Street
• Walnut Place
• Foster Street
• Princess Street
• Vernon Street
• Mill Lane
• Sibthorpe Street
• Prior Street
• Abbot Street
• Nelthorpe Street
• Pennell Street
• Sincil Bank
• Cross Street
• Thesiger Street
• Kirkby Street
• Hood Street
• Scorer Street
• Henry Street
• Sausthorpe Street
• Martin Street
• Grace Street
• St Andrews Street
• St Andrews Close
• Kingsway
• Linton Street
• Norris Street
• Arthur Street
• Hope Street
• Sewells Walk
• Smith Street
• Queen Street
• Knight Place
• Shakespeare Street
• Gibbeson Street
• Spencer Street
• Little Bargate Street
• Urban Street
• Ewart Street
• Francis Street
• Ellison Street
• Victoria Street
• Maple Street
• Elder Street
• Poplar Street
• Beech Street
• Boultham Avenue
• Peel Street
• Cranwell Street
• Robey Street
• St Botolphs Crescent
• Henley Street
• Tealby Street
• Bargate
• Sidney Street
• Craven Street
• Webb Street
• Coulson Road
• Waterloo Street

The report works out that, if all three phases were implemented, it could mean a set-up costs to the City of Lincoln Council of £225,000 with ongoing costs of £89,300.

Lincolnshire County Council could also pay £224,000 towards signs and road markings.

Estimated incomes for all three phases add up to £269,555.

If that were to happen, the scheme would operate at a loss for the first three years, with surpluses generated from the fourth year onwards.

If only the biggest scheme was brought in, it would operate at a loss for two years before beginning to make a profit, and if only the smaller two phases were agreed it would operate at an increasing loss year-on-year.

Any profits would be fed back into the operating costs and any subsequent extensions.