Parking permit extension a ‘welcome change’

Residents have described a move to extend parking permits in Lincoln as a ‘welcome change’.

However, some, including shoppers, commuters and business owners have criticised the cost and raised concerns over the effect on businesses.

The current scheme, examined by City of Lincoln’s executive committee on Monday, sees households pay £26 a year for their first permit and £52 for a second.

The aim is to reduce the amount of traffic on city centre roads while freeing up parking for residents.

The authority wants initially to expand it over two phases which would include 129 properties across eight streets in the areas of uphill Lincoln, from Newport Arch to Westgate in the Bailgate area.

A third phase of 3,977 properties could cover 76 further streets.

Following approval by the authority many residents took to social media to praise the move.

Michelle Francis said: “Stage 3 needs to happen. I can’t park on my street half the time let alone outside my house and I have a two-year old! I can’t even go food shopping in the day because I can’t get back on the street. There are sufficient carparks for workers of St Marks etc workers should utilize these instead!”

Rick Croot wrote: “I’m sick of people who don’t live on my street using it as a car park to go to work or into town, taking up what little spaces there are anyway. Passes can be issued to visitors or workmen by residents anyway… So not an issue to me.”

Courtney Jade Driffill said: “I personally welcome the change. It will be lovely to be able to park outside my home!”

Darren Rowbotham said: “I’m happy to pay and I’m a resident in one of the areas, quite a few of my neighbours agree too.”

John Francis Butler said: “Great I have people leave cars out side my house for days and some for a week or two, I see them take suit cases out of the car and don’t come back for a week or two.”

Bryony Lloyd said: “While I sympathise estate agents and maintenance companies need access. I also agree these need to be permitted. Very hard to park down my own street sometimes.

“There is also the problem on match days which means unless you are already parked you are not getting a spot to park”

However, others were not too happy to pay extra to park outside their homes with Robbie Brumpton saying: “Why should people pay to park their cars on the road we pay road tax to park it’s just one big rip off.”

Ady Johnson said: “My road tax is £540 a year. And you think im paying more to park? Dream on.”

Business owners and shoppers also questioned the expansion.

Jason Hill asked: “So what about traders who are working or someone like me that has 14 jobs a day at customers’ houses ranging from 20 min to an hour or more if it’s an install? Not everyone has passes or an extra permit as they won’t be able to afford it.”

Caroline McIntyre said: “I have a business on the lower High Street and whilst I understand that residents want to be able to park near their house, I am really concerned about the impact on trade.

“An hour’s parking isn’t long enough for our customers so will they have to park in town, paying high charges and walk down? Will the council reduce parking charges in town considering the revenue they’ll generate from the parking permits?

“This is no doubt going to be detrimental to the High Street which is struggling anyway, more so since Dixon Street closed – we’ve noticed a big drop in passing trade. I am very worried for the future.”

The council needs to have the support of 50 per cent or more of the communities involved.

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

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