Research finds parking needs to change in Westminster

New research into parking in

Westminster has revealed that a majority of people find it difficult to

find a space in the city for their vehicle during the day and night. 

Increases

in traffic, population and visitors to central London over the last ten

years have placed unprecedented demands on parking in the city with

some streets struggling to cope with the sheer amount of congestion,

according to the research by Westminster Council. 

The

last major review of parking in Westminster was 10 years ago and

transport chiefs said they were now looking at a number of options on

how to better manage the borough’s kerbside space including the

possibility of extending hours of control in very busy areas such as the

West End.

Published by the

council today (28th April), the research revealed that over 70% of

residents’ parking permit holders experienced parking difficulties on at

least a monthly basis, with nearly 60% finding it difficult to park on

at least a weekly basis during the day and night. 

Residents’

visitors also find it hard to park - over a third of respondents (37%)

believed that their visitors experienced difficulty finding an on-street

parking space on at least a weekly basis.

Elsewhere,

72% of residents said they supported the need to limit or cap the

number of resident parking permits issued to each household while 70%

believed there was a case for second permits and subsequent permits

issued per household to be charged at a higher rate.

The

research also highlighted parking in the West End as having its own set

of particular challenges with competing demands for extremely scarce

kerbside space during the day and especially at night.

Specifically,

it showed that in some parts of the West End there were more motorists

in the evening than during normal business hours.

This

resulted in parking occupancy levels far exceeding the council’s

recommended 80% “threshold limit” leaving the area “overloaded” with

traffic and parked cars from 7pm to 11pm on Saturday evenings. During

the week parking occupancy levels in the West End were also very high

with many parking zones approaching the recommended 80% limit.   

Transport

bosses said the research would help shape the future of parking

provision in Westminster for the next 10 to 15 years but stressed that

no decision had been taken yet and further consultation would be carried

out. 

Councillor Lee Rowley,

Westminster’s Cabinet Member for Parking and Transportation, said: “We

manage the largest parking service in the UK in one of the country’s

busiest and most congested boroughs and so have a very challenging job

in looking after the competing parking demands of residents, businesses

and visitors. 

“What’s clear

from this first round of consultation is that things cannot stay the way

they are and we need to make changes to parking in Westminster.

“We

will take on board the concerns of our residents so we can make it

easier for them park in the city while also ensuring that we work with

our businesses and visitors to keep the city moving, particularly where

there are high levels of demand for kerbside space in areas such as the

West End.” 

Other findings include:

• More than 90% of respondents said they now received deliveries at their home address following the growth in online shopping.

• More than 20% of people believed there was a need for more dedicated car club parking pays while 28% disagreed.

• A

significant number of respondents (70%) said they walked or cycled on a

week day compared to 25% who used cars – although this figure increases

on the weekend

• Eight percent of respondents felt that parking for

‘environmentally friendly’ vehicles should be a priority in Westminster,

while 4% believed that the council should do more to encourage the use

of electric and other ‘green’ vehicles.  

The

survey ran between 22nd November 2010 to 7th January 2011 and attracted

responses from 905 people made up of Westminster residents, businesses

and visitors. 

Around 90% of

respondents live in London, over half (58%) are Westminster residents

while around 40% are resident parking permit holders.

As

part of the council’s investigation into parking, it has also carried

out an automated traffic count survey and an occupancy heat map survey

of traffic. It has held multiple meetings with local business and

resident groups to ensure their views are taken on board.

The council’s cabinet will meet on May 9th to debate the parking proposals.

There

will then be a period of further consultation before the final parking

policy recommendations are decided by the council’s cabinet in July.