Bristol Mayor George Ferguson has made major revisions to his controversial residents’ parking programme in the face of fierce criticism.
The biggest change will be to build in a ‘thorough review’ before the eight outermost proposed schemes are progressed further, while giving the go-ahead for consultation on the 12 new inner schemes now at varying stages of developme
nt.
Mayor Ferguson has faced his sharpest criticism since gaining office over residents’ parking zones (RPZ), including being heckled by small business owners and being dubbed “arrogant” and “undemocratic” by councillors.
He admitted he “kicked a hornets' nest” when unveiling his plans for RPZs across Bristol.
But after significant revisions he said he hoped the “major package of changes will show once and for all that I really do listen to reason”.
Changes include a delay in introducing the eight previously proposed outer-city schemes until the effect of the four inner-city schemes are known.
The Mayor’s office said this was “in response to the views expressed by residents, businesses and councillors of all parties”.
A scheme for Easton and St Philip’s has already been consulted on and will now proceed to implementation under these revised proposals.
Well-advanced schemes in St Paul’s and Bower Ashton will proceed to the statutory Traffic Regulation Order consultation stage, and schemes in Clifton, Cotham North and Redland, where there is support generally for the schemes from local residents and councillors are to proceed.
Mayor Ferguson said: “I’ve always said I was listening, which is why I first brought forward improvements such as the traders’ cross zone permits, the doubling of the free waiting time in pay and display bays, reduced charges for small businesses and more, and a clear statement that I was willing to look at the outer boundaries.
“No-one should be surprised that I am now bringing forward these important changes for consideration, in response to well-argued cases. Bristol’s streets are crammed with far more cars than they were ever possibly built to cope with, exacerbated by the quantity of commuter parking, making radical action needed to cope with the huge traffic challenge I inherited on becoming mayor.
“I’ve still not heard anything to dissuade me from bringing forward more schemes to add to the four already in place, but I hope that the major package of changes will show once and for all that I really do listen to reason.”
