Councils join together to fund controlled parking zones
Commuter parking problems in residential areas of Oxford could be tackled after the county and city council agree to fund new controlled parking zones.
Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment Cllr Yvonne Constance, has approved a programme of work which will would see a number of controlled parking zones progressed.
Controlled parking zones (CPZ) help reduce congestion and pollution and encourage use of sustainable transport by removing free on-street commuter parking.
They also improve the street scene and can make streets safer and more accessible for all road users by removing obstructive parking.
Increasing demand due to growth
Cllr Yvonne Constance said: “Increasing demand for parking due to growth and development places stresses on local communities and so I am pleased that we are able to work with the city council to tackle it.
“Setting them up costs a great deal and the fees people pay to park in them cover the ongoing costs of running them. However most people who live in areas with controlled parking zones value them quite highly and this is something we want to be able to extend to other communities.
“Both councils are keen to work towards establishing a programme for developing new CPZs and together we are identifying the funding necessary. Much of this funding would come through the planning process which places a responsibility on developers to fund measures to mitigate the impact of their developments.”
Protecting residents and reducing pollution
Cllr Alex Hollingsworth, Oxford City Council’s board member for planning and transport, said: “We’ve been working closely with the county council to identify the highest priority areas for new parking zones and are ready to release the funds needed to help implement them.
“Parking zones not only protect residents from having their streets turned into commuter car parks, they help to reduce levels of traffic and pollution across the city.”
Three new zones (Iffley Fields, Magdalen South and Wood Farm) are already in the county council’s capital programme and are at various stages of development.
Money identified for new zones
The county council has identified around £661,000 for new CPZs - £250,000 from its own capital programme (agreed in previous years) and £411,000 from held or secured planning (S106) or highways (S278) agreements linked to new developments.
Oxford City Council has provisionally earmarked £200,000 from its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds to contribute to this programme.
Some of these planning and highways agreements are subject to completion of legal agreements, or will only be received if and when developments actually start on site. The £411,000 total should therefore be treated as a guide.
Further funding is expected from developments across the city over the next few years, through S106/S278 agreements and/or CIL.