PARKING CHANGES
A large part of Thursday, like Wednesday, was taken up with dealing with the impact of the new controlled parking zones in South Edinburgh. Though the problem only affected a few streets, the impact that it had on those streets was considerable.
The reason why we extended the controlled parking zones that have been operating in the city centre for twenty five years into our inner residential areas was that commuters were using these residential streets as “park and walk” sites. Residents asked us to do something and we did.
On the north of the City, in Broughton and Calton, there have been a few minor teething troubles, but probably fewer than we expected. Colleagues have even received messages of praise and support.
In the South though, commuters simply parked their cars a little further out – and sometimes in the most inconsiderate and dangerous way. Some residents too, instead of buying residents permits for their own streets simply went and parked for free in their neighbours’ streets. (I was amused by the story of one resident from the new controlled parking zone going out in the early morning in pyjamas and dressing gown to move her car into the “free” area!)
What I did, with Cllr Ricky Henderson, now with responsibility for Transport, was instruct officials to supervise the problem streets and put cones down where necessary to stop dangerous parking. I also instructed that a letter was sent to all residents in these streets explaining what we were doing. And Cllr Henderson and officials will organise a public meeting in the area, once motorists have got used to the new arrangements, to see what longer term adjustments need to be made.
I do think there is a lesson here for our officials and ourselves. I think it is to say to people – look, this is a complicated problem and we are dealing with human behaviour and so we won’t get everything right first go. But we will go back over it and make changes when we see what happens on the ground – and then please will you help us get it right.
And another thought – why is it that motorists always seem to get so angry, but pedestrians never seem to, when you could easily argue that pedestrians often get a worse deal than drivers?
The reason why we extended the controlled parking zones that have been operating in the city centre for twenty five years into our inner residential areas was that commuters were using these residential streets as “park and walk” sites. Residents asked us to do something and we did.
On the north of the City, in Broughton and Calton, there have been a few minor teething troubles, but probably fewer than we expected. Colleagues have even received messages of praise and support.
In the South though, commuters simply parked their cars a little further out – and sometimes in the most inconsiderate and dangerous way. Some residents too, instead of buying residents permits for their own streets simply went and parked for free in their neighbours’ streets. (I was amused by the story of one resident from the new controlled parking zone going out in the early morning in pyjamas and dressing gown to move her car into the “free” area!)
What I did, with Cllr Ricky Henderson, now with responsibility for Transport, was instruct officials to supervise the problem streets and put cones down where necessary to stop dangerous parking. I also instructed that a letter was sent to all residents in these streets explaining what we were doing. And Cllr Henderson and officials will organise a public meeting in the area, once motorists have got used to the new arrangements, to see what longer term adjustments need to be made.
I do think there is a lesson here for our officials and ourselves. I think it is to say to people – look, this is a complicated problem and we are dealing with human behaviour and so we won’t get everything right first go. But we will go back over it and make changes when we see what happens on the ground – and then please will you help us get it right.
And another thought – why is it that motorists always seem to get so angry, but pedestrians never seem to, when you could easily argue that pedestrians often get a worse deal than drivers?
posted by Councillor Ewan Aitken at
8:09 pm
