Service FAQ questions |

main content Copers Cope proposed Controlled Parking Zone: issues arising from the public meeting at St Paul's Church, 16 September 2008

What is the problem?

A significant number of our residents travel by train to central London and other destinations for their employment. As a consequence demand for parking around stations is very high and this often results in congestion on the local roads around the railway station, with corresponding inconvenience for local residents who are often competing for the use of the same parking place.

The indiscriminate parking often creates potential road safety problems particularly near junctions, bends and brows of hills when there is limited visibility and where parking on both sides of the road reduces the effective width of the carriageway with corresponding dangers and conflicts of motorists.

The guiding principles of a controlled zone should be:

• waiting restrictions should be used to protect junctions
• suitable gaps in long stretches of parked cars should be created to allow the free flow of traffic
• bays should be marked out to indicate where it is safe to park in other locations.

Why is the Council promoting this scheme?

The residents in Copers Cope have lobbied their Ward Councillors for the introduction of parking controls to improve the area.

The Council previously consulted on a different scheme – why can’t we have that?

The previous scheme had a restriction in the middle of the day, which is similar to other parking schemes in other parts of the borough.

A review of parking and parking controls concluded that whilst these schemes were successful in removing long-term commuter car parking from the area, they were inefficient as they did not reduce the demand for parking, but instead pushed the problem onto other residential streets with a corresponding demand from those residents.

This previous approach had simply pushed the problem around, rather than finding a local solution.

Will there be lots of traffic signs?

Any parking scheme requires sufficient signs to allow effective enforcement. It is proposed to minimise the impact of these signs by limiting the signs to the bear minimum through the introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). Where signs are necessary these will be placed at the back of the footway, at a lower height, to reduce their visual impact.

What is a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ)?

A Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) is an area with a defined boundary where the operational hours of parking controls are clearly stated on the entry plates to the zone. This reduces the need for individual signs within the area.

The Copers Cope Controlled Parking Zone will operate Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm. All single yellow lines in the zone will operate to the same hours.

What are the hours of operation?

No waiting at any time - double yellow lines will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is no need for any signs to indicate the duration of parking controls.

Single yellow lines will operate 8.30am-6.30pm, Monday to Friday only. These hours are indicated on the entry plates to the CPZ – it is possible to park on these lines in the evenings and at weekends.

Some bays near the church and school will be time limited where people will be able to park for a maximum of 3 hours, with no return within 3 hours.

Other bays will operate for 24 hours and there will be no restriction on how long people can park.

Why is the Scheme only Monday through to Friday?

At the public meeting at St Paul’s Church the majority of residents agreed to a question from the floor that the scheme should only operate Monday through to Friday.

However the Council is prepared to reconsider if the scheme should be extended through the weekend.

How much will it cost for me to park?

Residents permits
£35 per year if no off-street parking available
£75 per year if off-street parking available

Visitors permits
£30 for a book of 15 permits

Commuter parking (draft charges)
Monday to Friday, 7.00am – 9.30am

Zone 1
Tariffs 2009/10: These tariffs will be reviewed annually

Any period £2.80, £56 per month
1 week £14.00, £56 per month

Zone 2
Tariffs 2009/10: These tariffs will be reviewed annually
Any period £2, £40 per month 
1 week £10, £40 per month

Zone 3
There is no charge to park on street in Zone 3

How much will it cost my visitors to come and stay?

Your visitors will only be required to display a permit first thing in the morning between the hours of 7.00am-9.30am, Monday to Friday. Any visitors that come to see you after 09.30 or in the evenings or the weekends do not have to pay.

Please note that parking bays have different operating hours to the CPZ, which applies to the waiting restrictions.

If you have visitors that must park during 7.00am-9.30am they must display a permit. You can either give them a visitor’s permit or they can pay for their own pay and display permit at a machine or pay by telephone.

Further FAQs on the Copers Cope proposed Controlled Parking Zone

Further Frequently Asked Questions on the Copers Cope proposed Controlled Parking Zone are available here.