Earlier this year, BaNES Council consulted on a number of parking restrictions in locations near the K&A Canal including Claverton, Bathampton and Bath. Most of the restrictions were agreed, despite representations from liveaboard boaters that these restrictions will make our lives more difficult. Many of us now need to use cars to get to work due to CRT’s enforcement policy that has forced us to move long distances in order to avoid the refusal to renew our boat licences and subsequent risks of having our homes seized. Therefore we need to be able to park vehicles near to the canal. However, further restrictions to parking in Ferry Lane, Claverton, were shelved in response to the representations from boaters.
The Council’s decision stated that:
“The proposed No Parking At Any Time restrictions and Controlled Parking Zone was requested by the Senior Traffic Management Engineer on behalf of the police to prevent obstruction of Ferry Lane by parked vehicles. The proposed Controlled Parking Zone is not a Residents Parking Zone, and local residents would not be issued permits. The proposed restrictions are to allow parking in dedicated marked bays only for all drivers. Due to the number of objections raised above from the local boating community, it is the recommendation of this report that the proposed restrictions are not implemented at this time and further consultation and investigation be carried out in how to tackle the parking issues along Ferry Lane in the best way for all involved. It is recommended that this request be added to the next available Transport Improvement Program and funding be allocated to look into this issue further”.
However, double yellow lines to prevent parking at junctions on Holcombe Lane and on the whole of Downside Close in Bathampton and for the whole of Trollopes Hill in Monkton Combe (opposite the layby above Dundas Aqueduct), have been approved despite the Council also receiving objections from boaters to some of these proposed restrictions.
See 2 – TRO Approval to Progress TRO advertisement – 22 – 001
and 3 – Outcome of the TRO Process – NES 22-001
Parking restrictions in the Beckford Road area in Bath are also going ahead, despite representations from liveaboard boaters, meaning there is now almost nowhere for boaters to park their vehicles near Darlington Wharf and the Bath flight. The Council’s decision states:
“After careful consideration of the many responses received, the decision has been taken to proceed with the proposals, with one minor modification, which is not going ahead with the proposed removal of double yellow lines in Forester Road.”
The Council declined to meet with the Kennet and Avon Boaters’ Action Group to discuss the impact of these proposals on the liveaboard community. BaNES said in its response that Blue Badge holders can park their vehicles in residents’ parking spaces. The Council’s full response to the objections raised by the Boaters’ Action Group was:
“Alternative unrestricted parking for all motorists displaced by the scheme remains available approximately 600m away from where the canal footpath joins Beckford Road along the A36 heading uphill away from the city centre. Both the alternative parking location and Beckford Road are served by regular bus services. We recognise that this alternative parking may be unsuitable for any motorist, including a boat dweller, that is disabled. Blue Badge holders are entitled to park their vehicle, upon display of their blue badge in the vehicle, for as long as is necessary in resident permit holders bays. Resident Parking Zone 10 is located adjacent to the area of Beckford Road affected by this scheme with resident permit parking located along Beckford Gardens and Forester Road.
The council manages over 20 residents parking schemes and issues permits to residents where qualifying criteria are met in accordance with the scheme’s terms and conditions. These criteria include residents that live within an entitled property within the zone that is recorded within the Local Land Property Gazetteer (LLPG) and registered for council tax purposes, or where the resident holds a valid exemption from council tax. These criteria do not apply to Blue Badge holders as described above, where their Blue Badge is the permit.”
See
https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/beckford-road-traffic-regulation-order-tro-consultation/project-timeline
and
See also
Tags: BANES Council, Bath, Bathampton, Claverton, consultation, continuous cruising, CRT continuous cruising policy, enforcement, liveaboards, parking, Traffic Regulation Orders