CHANGES to how resident parking permits work in the borough are being proposed, and the council is asking the borough to make its views known before its plans are finalised.
The proposals, put forward by Wokingham Borough Council, aim to make the scheme more consistent, fair and effective, and address rising on-street parking issues around the town centres and train stations.
Cllr Adrian Betteridge, executive member for active travel, transport and highways, said: “We are making these proposals to improve the parking situation for residents in high demand areas.
“Changes to zones are intended to provide more flexibility and parking opportunities for residents in busy areas, while other proposed changes will provide benefits for many residents.”
The council has launched a consultation to gather residents’ views on the proposals, including the new zonal boundaries and introduction of visitor parking permits.
The residents’ permit scheme has been operating in Wokingham Borough since 2017, with 16 current Controlled Parking Zones in operation – some of which would be combined under the proposals to make it easier for residents to find parking around where they live.
The proposed policy changes would impact all existing, new and proposed resident permit parking zones.
However, there are currently no boundary changes proposed for the Remenham, Earley and Emmbrook zones.
Permits would be digital and subject to a tiered pricing model, where a second permit can be bought at a higher cost.
Eligibility for permits will be dependent on whether the household has off-street parking.
Residents’ feedback is being sought on a range of resident permit related topics, including:
Changes to existing resident parking permit zones and proposals to add new roads to the scheme; resident parking permit hours of operation; and resident permit eligibility, the tariff model, and terms and conditions.
The council especially wants to hear from people living in a zone affected by the changes, to ensure that it understands their views before finalising the plans.
Residents can view the proposalsl, and have their say on the consultation, online.
Households in a zone affected by these proposals will receive a letter with a Unique Identification Number (UIN) they can use to give feedback specific to their area.
The consultation closes on Sunday, September 28.
People unable to complete the survey online can contact the council’s customer services team on (0118) 974 6000 or visit a library to request a paper copy or PDF copy.
They can also use the Contact Us form on the council’s website.
To complete the survey, visit: engage.wokingham.gov.uk and search for ‘resident parking scheme’.
