Parking Permits in Hillsborough.

[Planner1]

Thank you Planner1.

 

As the scheme has been in place in Hillsborough for two weeks now (and is therfore in its infancy), what are you're views on how the scheme is working?

Haven't been there in the past two weeks so couldn't say.

 

Two weeks is a bit early to draw any conclusions, in my experience, you need to give it a few months to see how patterns of use emerge.

 

The Council usually carry out a review after 12/18 months (which includes public consultation), which gives people time to see what works and what doesn't and think about anything which needs to be changed.

[BoroB]

At last, I see a glimmer of recognition in your post that you actually see that permit parking is not solely responsible for shops shutting.

 

People say lots of things to you, but are they actually true? Are there similar shops nearby (Charity Shop wasn't it?) in the permit areas which are still trading? So, why was that one particularly affected by it?

 

I've never seen any hard evidence which shows conclusively that permit parking has adversely affected a business in Sheffield. From my own personal observations, I don't see any alarming increases in the numbers of empty shops in permit areas. Shops come and go all the time, everywhere, not just in permit areas. Trading conditions change and some don't / can't adapt.

 

It's difficult for the Council to know precisely, because businesses won't show them their accounts.

 

Parking permits may not be the main reason why people decide to open/close a shop in an area but they will certainly be amongst the factors that will be considered. Personally' I would guess the advent of kindles wills have more of an affect on my business than parking permits will.

 

The council are aware that Hillsborough is suffering from a shopping point of view, that it is why they have been running an Experience Hillsborough campaign.

 

In my eyes this campaign and the introduction of parking permits/more pay meters are counter productive.

[BoroB]

Haven't been there in the past two weeks so couldn't say.

 

Two weeks is a bit early to draw any conclusions, in my experience, you need to give it a few months to see how patterns of use emerge.

 

The Council usually carry out a review after 12/18 months (which includes public consultation), which gives people time to see what works and what doesn't and think about anything which needs to be changed.

 

A succint summary of events would be Holme Lane still busy, same number of cars in Hillsborough but now they are parked on roads outside the scheme rather than those in it. More revenue for the council. Problem not solved. Off to match.

[Planner1]

Parking permits may not be the main reason why people decide to open/close a shop in an area but they will certainly be amongst the factors that will be considered. Personally' I would guess the advent of kindles wills have more of an affect on my business than parking permits will.

 

The council are aware that Hillsborough is suffering from a shopping point of view, that it is why they have been running an Experience Hillsborough campaign.

 

In my eyes this campaign and the introduction of parking permits/more pay meters are counter productive.

Yes indeed, trading conditions change. Permit parking may be a factor in some business decisions.

 

The Council know that businesses have needs and speak to them about it when they are putting in permit schemes. On the ones I was involved in, we had a lot of discussions with businesses. It's often difficult to get a consensus from businesses on what is needed, they often have differing views and many business people have strong opinions one way or another.

 

The Council have to take a balanced view. Hillsborough is not only a commercial centre, it's also residential and there are often conflicting requirements.

 

Pay and display can help businesses. I've heard complaints from businesses that parking spaces near their premises are parked up all day by commuters (sometimes the business owners and staff!) and customers can't park anywhere near. Pay an display can help cure that problem, but some customers don't like to pay. There isn't a win / win solution to such problems.

[Planner1]

A succint summary of events would be Holme Lane still busy, same number of cars in Hillsborough but now they are parked on roads outside the scheme rather than those in it. More revenue for the council. Problem not solved. Off to match.

Holme Lane will always be busy.

 

I don't think it's possible to "solve" the problem, but the Council can try to regulate it better, hence permit / pay and display parking. It isn't perfect, but it's often better in some way than the previous situation.

[Ms Macbeth]

My (very brief) personal experience since the scheme has been introduced has been around a friend who regularly drives to meet me for lunch in Taplin Road. She has been able to park very near to the café the last twice we've met, and doesn't mind paying less than £1 for the convenience.

 

We're a little bit outside the zone and I haven't noticed any impact on our street as of yet.

[BoroB]

My (very brief) personal experience since the scheme has been introduced has been around a friend who regularly drives to meet me for lunch in Taplin Road. She has been able to park very near to the café the last twice we've met, and doesn't mind paying less than £1 for the convenience.

 

We're a little bit outside the zone and I haven't noticed any impact on our street as of yet.

 

And was your friend was able to park very near to the cafe where you meet before the permit scheme was introduced?

 

My guess is that she could. And that she could park for free.

[John_S6]

I think the real test, particularly for those who like me live on a street just outside the zone and therefore weren't consulted, will be tomorrow - when the scheme is actually live and people won't just be getting warnings on their windscreens instead of fines unlike the last two weeks.

[BoroB]

Holme Lane will always be busy.

 

I don't think it's possible to "solve" the problem, but the Council can try to regulate it better, hence permit / pay and display parking. It isn't perfect, but it's often better in some way than the previous situation.

 

As you say Holme Lane will always be busy; it has got alot worse since the Tram/Bus gates were introduced.

 

What were once simple journeys have been complicated by council 'improvements'.

[BoroB]

I think the real test, particularly for those who like me live on a street just outside the zone and therefore weren't consulted, will be tomorrow - when the scheme is actually live and people won't just be getting warnings on their windscreens instead of fines unlike the last two weeks.

 

Good luck!