Residents in Rose Street have been left confused following a change in regulations for visitor parking permits.
They claim the scheme was changed in September 2023 without consultation or notice.
The virtual parking permit system now requires residents to link their permit to a specific vehicle registration number, leaving those without vehicles, and older people with regular care visits, at a loss.
Previously, residents had been using the previous paper-based permit system, where the permits could be used for any vehicle, meaning they could easily be transferred between visitors’ vehicles.
It has been suggested that for many residents in Rose Street, the new vehicle-specific system is virtually unusable.
Cllr Rachel Burgess, councillor for Norreys, said: “Regular parking permits are linked to a single registration number, and residents are instructed to go online and change the registration number every time someone visits.
“This might work well for some – but how is someone with high care needs who receives five carer visitors each day, with no knowledge of who will be visiting, when, or what vehicle they are in, realistically supposed to do this?”
Noting that the permit system relies on residents owning, and therefore running, a car, she added: “We are rightly encouraging less car use across the borough, so to actually make it more difficult for non-drivers to have visitors in their homes than car owners is counter-intuitive.”
She added that paper permits, as well as carer permits, are available however they are both linked to an individual registration number, which many feel is totally impractical.
“There are visitor bays in the street, but they are limited to 30 minutes which is often not enough for some care visits, and for many other visitors.”
One Rose Street resident was appalled at the change to what she felt was a workable system.
“Residents are encouraged to retain their independence and live in their own homes.
“The new parking permit regime makes this extremely difficult and leaves many feeling vulnerable in their own homes, worried that they will not be able to easily access carers, nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
Cllr Marie-Louise Weighill, who represents Norreys ward, added: “The council recently publicly pledged to support Social Care Future, a movement that is committed, among other things, to people ‘living in the place they call home’ and ‘living the lives they want to live’.
“The council must translate their warm words into actions, such as the reinstatement of non-vehicle specific parking permits in Rose Street.”
Residents have been signing a petition addressed to Wokingham Borough Council to reinstate non-vehicle-specific parking permits in Rose Street.
That petition can be found at www.wokinghamlabourparty.org/petition/rosestreet.
A spokesperson for Wokingham Borough Council said: “When our permit system changed last year, we wrote to all residents to tell them about the change.
“Carer permits are available, and residents can have as many carers permits as they need.
“Residents can call 0118 974 6000 or email parking.services@wokingham.gov.uk to apply for a carer permit.”
