Consultations and surveys Rusholme and Moss Side residents parking scheme consultation

The scheme area has been agreed following discussions with ward members and is constrained by budgetary requirements. The existing boundary is deemed suitable to deliver the aims of the scheme to the busiest parking areas.

A degree of displaced parking is anticipated, however the area over which that may occur is widespread (ie: around the outskirts of the scheme area). In addition, experience from other schemes indicates that a proportion of those who currently drive and park in the area (for example, commuters taking advantage of the area’s proximity to the city centre) will seek alternative travel modes. Therefore, as well as the impact of parking being spread over a wider area, there is likely to be a reduction in numbers.

Where a carriageway is less than 7.3m wide, bays can only be provided on one side of the street, with the other side protected by No Waiting at any Time (double yellow lines, or DYL) restrictions. This is to ensure safe passage for vehicles and also to remove the risk of pavement-mounted parking. Where bays switch to the opposite side of the same street a typically 5m gap, protected by DYL, is placed to reduce risk of conflict from oncoming vehicles.

Many respondents requested instead resident only ‘Past this point’ (PTP) parking, which is typically placed on smaller roads and cul-de-sacs where space is limited. In such areas, bays are not marked, and permit holders arrange parking among themselves. While there is a risk of pavement-mounted parking, this is largely reduced as the drivers parking here are normally residents of the street/area, and a form of self-policing occurs. Such a restriction, however, cannot provide a parking resource for non-permit holders. This is related to the legal requirements surrounding signs, and what they can display.

Permits are available for every vehicle registered to a property in the scheme area. A permit is required to park in marked areas on the public highway during the hours of the scheme. Parking in private driveways or parking areas does not require a permit and MCC cannot place or enforce restrictions on private land.

A permit does not guarantee a parking place.

Vehicles displaying a Blue Badge are exempt from limited waiting restrictions and Past the Point restrictions displayed in resident parking schemes. In locations with single/double yellow lines they are permitted to park for up to 3 hours subject to the limitations described in the dedicated webpage.

Should the scheme go ahead there is likely to be an impact across the wider area. The proposals anticipate this by covering areas that, at present, may suffer less from parking concerns.

Note that the next stage in the process is to move to Statutory Consultation. At this time, objections and comments can be made to the proposals. Should sufficient objection be received from a street/area, MCC are obligated to consider this and, should the objection be supported the scheme will not cover the area.

Please note however that not all streets may be eligible for removal, for example a street in the centre of the scheme that may otherwise become a ‘free’ parking resource within the scheme area.

There is no charge for resident permits, business permits, carer permits or for those students who do not qualify for a resident permit but who require a vehicle to complete their studies.

The annual fee for a resident visitor permit or business visitor permit is as low as possible and is reviewed regularly. There are no plans to increase this charge.

Permits are only required for parking in marked areas during the hours of the scheme. In many areas this is restricted to weekdays, and therefore overnight and at weekends there is no restriction or need for a permit to park.

Students with a vehicle registered to a property in the scheme area are eligible for a permit, as are all residents.

Students who live in the scheme area who don’t fit the resident permit criteria but require a vehicle to complete their studies (for example, a student nurse on placement at a remote hospital) can apply for an annual Student Permit free of charge. One permit provides for one vehicle, valid for the academic year (September to June).

It remains the policy of MCC not to promote private car use, particularly for students who live within walking distance of the university and in an area with excellent bus, cycle and walking facilities.

Visitors can take advantage of the limited waiting bays in the area, and a visitor permit is available if the visitor needs to park within the hours of the scheme. Outside of these hours (for example, in many cases this is overnight and at weekends) no permit is required and parking is not restricted.

The scheme aims primarily to address excessive commuter parking in the area. Parking generated by businesses in the area are catered for by limited waiting bays, and outside of the restricted hours in both bays and PTP areas. 

Inconsiderate, obstructive and illegal parking (including pavement-mounted parking) is not permitted at any time and should be reported online.

A balance is required between providing a parking resource for residents and for those who wish to visit businesses in the area. 

Business owners can apply for one permit and one visitor permit, that can allow one visitor vehicle at a time to park in permit areas. Should business owners choose to allow staff to use this is their choice, however this will clearly reduce available parking space for potential customers.

Visitors are catered for with limited waiting bays. Restrictions do not apply at all times, and a visitor permit is only required during the marked hours.

There are no plans to increase the costs associated with visitor permits. Note that all other permits are free-of-charge.

Limited waiting has been maximised where possible, and due to the 1hr/3hr maximum wait times there will be a higher turnover of vehicles using the bays. This has been shown to increase customer numbers in similar schemes.

Businesses can apply for visitor permits for those customers who need to stay longer than the time permitted in the Limited Waiting Bays during scheme hours. 

There are large areas of the scheme where parking is not restricted in evenings and at weekends. 

Visitors to the area are encouraged to use the excellent bus, cycle and walking facilities.

It is not permitted to obstruct a dropped kerb at any time and as such signs or lines are not required to restrict parking alongside these. Any vehicle parking alongside a dropped kerb is liable to receive a penalty charge of £70. If appropriate the vehicle may be removed and impounded.

H-bars (also known as Access Highlight Markings) may be placed where a dropped kerb exists where the issue of parked vehicles blocking them is an ongoing concern, and their purpose is to clarify it to other road users. Please note however that the H-bar marking is advisory only.

If a vehicle is parked in a position that obstructs private access, whether an H-bar is located there or not, report it to us online.

In such locations during detailed design H-bars will be considered, however the comments in the previous response should be noted.

A parking bay marking indicates where a vehicle may be parked in accordance with the signed restriction and in such a manner as to not obstruct private access. If a vehicle is parked within a bay but is obstructive, report it to us online.

Such a design is often preferred by residents – the person likely to park over a private access is often the resident themselves, and as such this layout can maximise the available parking space in an area.

Should concerns exist post-implementation changes to the markings will be considered at that time.

The council is permitted to implement and enforce parking restrictions on any highway (adopted or unadopted) to which the public have access. To not do so while imposing parking restrictions on nearby streets would create concerns for residents on them.

As with many smaller streets and cul-de-sacs in the area, the proposed restriction on Fairbank Ave at the initial stage is for the ‘Past the Point’ (PTP) type. This is to maximise the parking capacity on streets where space is limited. Please note that, as with all waiting restrictions, this only applies to the public highway and not to private parking areas such as that between the footway and property number 1.

See comments in item 2 for more detail on PTP parking.

Where road width is less than 7.3m, or for other reasons bays cannot be located on both sides of the street, bays will be placed on one side only and where fewer residences have off-street parking if applicable. Double yellow line (DYL) are required to be placed on the opposite side in such circumstances.

Where bays switch to the opposite side of the same street a typically 5m gap, protected by DYL, is placed to reduce risk of conflict from oncoming vehicles.

The proposals for a resident parking scheme in Rusholme and Moss Side have been under review for a number of years. During that time several options have been considered, however to ensure that the budget available for the scheme is spent on delivering the scheme, abortive designs, options and reviews are not reported on.

Modelling software cannot predict the outcomes of resident parking schemes. 

Such consultations are normally held in-person, though due to Covid restrictions this was not possible. Councillors supported a decision by officers to press forward with online consultation due to the risk of further delay.

Full details of the scheme area, with information concerning the proposed restrictions, the streets affected and the operation of permits, was provided on a website. A letter was sent inviting business owners and residents of all properties within and adjacent to the scheme area (4,657 individual addresses), with details of the website. Translated information was available on request.

There are restrictions on the type and amount of detail that can be provided in online consultations, as was required for this consultation due to Covid-19 restrictions. This is related to accessibility for visually impaired users, such that no detail can be included without a facility for that to be read aloud by a screen-reading device. Clearly this creates difficulty with complex schemes, however an email address was included where a detailed plan could be requested.

Two online meetings were held in place of in-person meetings, during which officers were available to answer queries on the scheme. Initially, four were arranged, however due to the low numbers requesting to attend this was reduced to two.
 

An electronic visitor permit is available to any resident of a property within the scheme area. On this, up to 10 vehicles may be registered, and this list can be changed an unlimited number of times. Only one of these vehicles may be parked in restricted areas at any one time.

This only applies to vehicles parked in marked areas during the operational hours of the scheme on any particular street – outside of these hours there is no requirement for a permit or restriction on parking.

The Council holds a variety of information about people living in the city. For example, records are kept by Library and Leisure Services, Education, Council Tax, Housing Benefit, Social Services, Planning and other services.

Find out more about our data protection policy online.