A residents’ parking permit scheme covering the Sincil Bank area in Lincoln is set to be expanded to include parts of the High Street and Canwick Road. The plans are due to go before Lincolnshire County Council’s Planning and Regulation Committee on Monday, October 2.
This decision comes after considering objections related to the proposed amendment of streets associated with the permit zones. The report from the Lincolnshire County Council states: “This proposal seeks to address the loss of on street parking for residents and businesses on the periphery of the newly introduced permit parking zones.
“By amending the traffic regulation order to include the sections of High Street and Canwick Road as proposed, their opportunity to park will be restored and displacement of parking to adjacent areas, which will now already be subject to more use by commuters, is reduced.”
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Since the scheme originally began on September 1, approximately 1,580 Sincil Bank parking passes have been purchased according to the City of Lincoln Council. Enforcement figures provided by Lincolnshire County Council indicate that from September 12 to September 20, 175 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued for non-display, and 12 were issued for invalid permits, being in the wrong zone, or the permit being out of date.
The permit parking schemes within the Sincil Bank area of Lincoln and to the west of the High Street were introduced upon the request of the City of Lincoln Council. The proposed amendment aims to include sections of the High Street and Canwick Road on the periphery of these zones.
Consequently, adjacent properties will be entitled to apply for permits to park within the zones. However, the proposal hasn’t been without its detractors. Four objections were raised, with concerns that the inclusion of additional properties would heighten competition for parking space among existing permit holders.
Some believe that the scheme is merely a financial strategy for the council. In response to such concerns, the report clarifies that the permit’s cost is set to cover the City of Lincoln Council’s administrative costs and the County Council’s enforcement costs.
Residents in the area have expressed mixed feelings about the parking permit scheme, with many acknowledging its benefits in easing parking woes, especially for those living in student housing, while others highlighted concerns such as the absence of clear markings and the scheme’s impact on non-residents.
Some appreciated the introduction of guest passes and the reduced parking struggles, while a few remain unaffected or expect further improvements. Joanne Druce, a local resident, shared her perspective: “I think in general it’s a good idea to have a permit scheme in place, especially because we have a lot of student housing and they often have friends parking in the area.
“We also get a lot of people who park here for work, which makes it harder for those living down here to park. The new scheme has worked out so far.”
She pointed out a lack of markings on her road so far, adding that there were still people coming down without permits. Joanne noted that wardens only recently started to patrol, but said that since then, the parking situation has improved.