Views on parking enforcement changes sought

Cllr Nick BennettRESIDENTS and businesses in Rother will be asked for their views on plans to tackle parking problems across the district.

A seven-week public consultation will launch on Monday, November 19, to gauge the level of support for the proposed changes to parking restrictions in Battle, Bexhill, Rye and Robertsbridge.

East Sussex County Council has worked with Rother District Council to draw up proposals in a bid to address concerns raised by members of the public.

Cllr Nick Bennett, the county council’s lead member for transport and environment, said: “We have had a lot of feedback from the public about parking issues across the district, but as on street parking is the responsibility of Sussex Police the county council does not have any enforcement powers.

“The decriminalisation of parking and introduction of civil parking enforcement will enable us to deal with the issues that local communities experience, but we want to hear your views on the proposed changes to parking restrictions.”

Adopting civil parking enforcement in Rother, which requires permission from the Department for Transport, will help ease congestion, improve traffic flow, maintain good access for emergency services and allow all yellow line restrictions to be enforced across the district.

The proposed scheme must be self-financing which means charges for permits and pay and display parking has to cover set up and operational costs.

Following a review of concerns raised by the public and discussions with Rother District Council, the county council is proposing a series of changes including;

• Introducing permit holder parking in Bexhill, Battle and Rye
• Introducing pay and display parking at some locations where there are existing time limited bays in Battle, Bexhill, Robertsbridge and Rye
• Introducing shared permit holder and time limited parking in Bexhill and Battle
• Minor changes to existing parking restrictions
• Formalising existing ‘school keep clear’ markings

Residents have until Monday, January 14, 2019, to give their views on the proposals, and can do so online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/haveyoursay, or by completing a paper questionnaire available from Bexhill, Battle or Rye library.

Information about the proposals will also be available at a series of public exhibitions, held as part of the consultation process, at the following locations;

• Thursday, November 22 at Centre Stage, London Road, Bexhill, between 2pm and 8pm
• Friday, November 23 at Centre Stage London Road, Bexhill , between 2pm and 8pm
• Saturday, November 24 at Centre Stage London Road, Bexhill, between 9am and noon
• Thursday, November 29 at Memorial Halls, High Street, Battle, between 2pm and 8pm
• Friday, November 30 at Rye Town Hall, Market Street, Rye, between 2pm and 8pm
• Saturday, December 1 at Rye Town Hall, Market Street, Rye, between 9am and noon

Response to the consultation will help determine the final scheme proposals, which will be subject to further formal consultation. The process of introducing civil parking enforcement is lengthy and any approved changes would not be expected to be made until 2020.

Ends.