PARKING MAD
We’re furious as the council wants to turn our street into a CAR PARK – we’ll never forgive them
A COUNCIL'S plans to transform dozens of streets into a whopping car park have been blasted by furious locals.
Officials introduced a 'permit zone' scheme in Norfolk Road after neighbours living close to Sheffield's train station complained commuters were taking advantage of free street parking.
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But there are now proposals enforce the zone in multiple areas of the city - with residents claiming councillors have simply decided "one size fits all".
Streets would be daubed with double yellow and white lines to make bays, while parking metres would be installed outside homes.
David Cobley, who lives near Norfolk Road, has now formed a campaign group to take on the Labour-led local authority, reports.
He said: “In a nutshell, it’s been imposed without any initial consultation. The residents had no input in the design.
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"There are various areas which don’t have a problem with parking and in our view will not have a problem with parking.
“There are umpteen other reasons, not least the economics of the costs involved both for individual families and for the city as a whole.
";There has to be, surely, some other way to conclude the problem certain roads have. That’s up to the council."
He said many residents have no idea the scheme has even been suggested, and are unaware that buying a parking permit won't guarantee them a space.
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And he said the council must be "mad as hatters".
Campaigners say "unaffordable" prices will be charged for permits, while neighbours will be forced to fight each other for spaces.
They say the scheme has been "poorly thought through, and fear the initial cost of the work could cost millions in taxpayer cash.
But the council says the introduction of the bays is "not a foregone conclusion".
Tom Finnegan-Smith, head of strategic transport, sustainability and infrastructure, said: “We have received a number of comments from people who have questioned why their streets are included in the boundary of the parking scheme.
“We understand that some people have concerns about the scheme as they currently do not experience any issues parking outside their properties.
“It is our experience that if we do install parking restrictions on only those roads that suffer with commuter parking, there will be a displacement of parking on roads that do not have any restrictions.”
And a spokesperson from the council says "demand for parking is outstripping supply" in many areas.
"To combat the negative effects of unrestricted commuter parking on those living in the area, we have implemented a number of controlled parking zones," they said.
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“Managing demand by implementing restrictions has been used effectively in areas surrounding the city centre for around 15 years.
“It is hoped that the parking scheme will help deal with the city’s pressing challenges and improve resident’s journeys and quality of life.”
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