Agenda item

Transport Issues in SW Exeter

Lynn Wetenhall of the Campaign for SW Exeter Smarter Travel (CWEST)put the following question to the Board under the Open Forum arrangements.

“Given the considerable disquiet expressed by both Councillors and many members of the public over the last four years regarding transport issues in SW Exeter and the building of 3,000 new homes, do Councillors agree that proposed transport solutions for SW Exeter, including the proposed park and ride on protected River Valley Park land, are urgently in need of some fresh thinking? We would also ask Councillors to secure transparency about what is going in and what is planned with regard to transport issues in SW Exeter, as there is a lot of interest in the topic.”

The Devon County Council position statement on the South West Urban Extension was circulated in response, Members briefly commenting on the importance of ensuring that transport solutions for the Exeter were sustainable given future development proposals for the City.

Responding, Ms Wetenall asked for greater clarity and transparency as proposals were brought forward, suggesting that a preferred approach should be to examine more radical solutions to the growing transport requirements of the City. In particular, she felt that the strategic roles of the County Council and the Local Economic Partnership should be clarified.

RESOLVED that the County Council Cabinet holder for Economy, Growth and Cabinet Liaison for Exeter and the Head of Planning, Transportation and Environment meet with CWEST to discuss the issues raised further.

Concessionary Car Park Permits

Beryl James put the following question to the Board under the Open Forum arrangements:-

“Will ECC continue to provide concessionary car park permits for city centre residents who do not qualify for street parking zone permits?

In April 2014, the Council suspended the issue of residents permits to new residents to (I quote) 'close a loophole arising from car parking space lost to re-development twenty years ago'. This suspension was reversed following a public outcry, but the situation remains uncertain. It also remains an unfair anomaly, as residents who have zoned parking and on-street permits pay £20 per annum and can have two permits per household.  The car park permits cost £125 per annum.

Many houses in St David's rely on concessionary parking permits because streets are too narrow for parking. These are good quality houses that attract professional people to live in the city centre.

I contend that failure to guarantee one permit per household will adversely affect the whole city centre because:

• The city centre is becoming saturated with purpose built student flats and there is a danger of creating an unbalanced immature (and sometimes irresponsible) young and transient population.

• Surveys have shown that attracting residents to city centres make them safer places for everyone to enjoy.

• Permanent residents and owner occupiers provide valuable support to community policing by reporting problems such as drug taking and noise nuisance.

• Residents care for their homes and communities, picking up litter, maintaining Victorian and Georgian housing, keeping historic areas, such as St David's, attractive for tourists led by Red Coat guides.  Exeter lost so much of its heritage in 1942: a short sighted and wrong decision now could cost us much of what is left

• Uncertainty over the retention of the permit scheme has resulted in difficulties in attracting owner-occupiers when properties are being sold.  These owners need to sell and may find that their only option is to sell to landlords or suffer hardship from being unable to sell at all.  Either option will mean that lively city centre areas will become neglected and forlorn.

• The opinion of at least one councillor (expressed to me personally) that those living in the city centre should not expect to own a car is unreasonable, undemocratic, short-sighted and potentially damaging to the city centre.  Most residents use their cars less, but still need to own one.

• I urge you to see Exeter as more than a retail paradise and to support city centre residents.

The Chair advised that a report covering the concessionary parking permit issue was currently being drafted and would be heard by the City Council’s Scrutiny Committee - Economy on 13 November. It was noted that the parking permit administration had been passed over to the County Council by the City Council and that the issuing of permits was being examined as part of a wider review of car parking in the City currently being undertaken. Reference was made to particular parking problems experienced in areas of the City with a high student population.

Responding, Ms James stated that problems were not confined to student areas and urged the Scrutiny Committee not to adopt an anti-car stance.

RESOLVED that the question and comments of the Board be passed to the City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture for inclusion in the report to, and for consideration by, the Scrutiny Committee - Economy.