Issue - meetings

Report ES19067

Orpington High Street is a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) Monday to Saturday between 8.30am and 6.30pm, with parking spaces currently designated for loading and short-stay parking, mainly to serve local shops, businesses and visitors.

High Street residents have exclusive entitlement to purchase a permit for parking in adjoining roads during controlled hours whereas residents of the roads can only park on paying at the point of parking (similar to town centre visitors). Many spaces currently remain under-utilised during controlled hours to the frustration of residents not permitted a permit. The scheme is also unwieldy to operate with a loose boundary, has confusing signage and wide area of coverage; and enforcement of parking controls in the area is not as efficient and cost effective as it could be.

A recent review identified the need for comprehensive change, ensuring fairness to all user classes, efficient use of kerb space, and open, robust and cost-effective enforcement of controls for positive net income. Accordingly, it is intended to replace the existing K-Permit scheme with a well-defined K-CPZ around Orpington town centre and a K1-CPZ comprising York Rise, Newstead Avenue and a small section of Crofton Road (shown in Appendix 1 to Report ES19067). This would rationalise the current K-Permit scheme, help to resolve weaknesses with current arrangements, and streets could also be decluttered within the area. Parking bays in the remaining K-Permit area outside the proposed CPZs would remain pay-to-park.  

As the number of P&D machines are reduced and replaced with cashless payment, the number of permit holders is also likely to increase (from 38 to 105 based on 5% of the 1350 households in the proposed CPZs). Including every household within the two CPZs in the permit zone, a minimum £10.5k annual income is projected from permits (£6.7k above current annual income based on the current £100 annual permit charge). Income from paid parking is also likely to increase.

Reviewing and implementing the proposed changes are estimated to cost £25k to be met from TfL capital funding and Section 106 Funding.  

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree that:

(1)  the existing K-Permit Parking scheme be replaced with a new K-Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) around Orpington town centre and a K1-CPZ west of Orpington Station (Appendix 1 to Report ES19067 showing the proposed CPZs within the existing K-Permit scheme boundary);

(2)  charges to park in areas outside of the proposed CPZs be levied and paid for by cashless methods; and

(3)  the proposed changes be implemented within a budget of £25k.