Proposal to ease parking problems in town

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 4^th February 2015

Wed 4^th Feb 2015

The Residents of Wilmslow (RoW) group would like to ask for Wilmslow residents' opinions on an idea that could potentially help to ease the parking issues in the town.

The general idea is to use driveways in Wilmslow that have spare space during the day to provide parking for commuters.

Similar schemes, where people rent out their driveways, are commonplace across the country but this proposed scheme is different in that use of the driveway is exchanged for voluntary work within the community. This may be helping a charity, improving the town or assisting community groups.

In exchange for completing some voluntary work, commuters would be allowed to use driveways offered to the scheme by Wilmslow residents.

David Jefferay, Town Councillor for the Wilmslow East Ward, said "I thought of this idea whilst away on holiday before Christmas and, with Christmas now out of the way, I thought I'd gauge interest.

"Everyone knows that Wilmslow has a commuter parking problem with all-day workers' cars left in residential areas blocking emergency access and causing inconvenience to the residents. This RoW initiative will help provide commuter parking, deter burglars for the homeowner and help local causes. It's win-win-win."

RoW would welcome discussion on any ideas for improvements, any problems with this suggestion or thoughts on such things as: Would people be more likely to use it for a monetary rather than time donation?; Would home-owners be more willing to offer a driveway in exchange for payment to them? and Is 4 hours voluntary work too much or too little?

RoW would also be pleased to hear from any home-owners, commuters or good causes that would like to take part.

What do you think about the proposed scheme? Share your views via the comment box below.

Comments can also be sent to [email protected].

Tags:: Parking , Parking, Residents of Wilmslow

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

DELETED ACCOUNT

Wednesday 4^th February 2015 at 12:54 pm

Renting out driveways is common in many towns. In Heald Green some of the houses fronting Wilmslow Road rent out their diveways on a Friday. It would be good if the companies who know that their parking is inadequate could take responsibility to "link" car users with appropriate diveways nearby, either for a monetary contribution to the house owner ( who would have to pay to have their insurance policy altered) or pay a regular sum to a named charity within the town.

Nick Jones

Wednesday 4^th February 2015 at 2:01 pm

This happens to my knowledge and experience in dormitory suburbs to London and around Old Trafford on match days...... I think CEC and its councillors much prefer the yellow line displacement option as in this fashion..... they dont have to deal with the real issue, just keep pushing vehicles further and further away from the town centre.... whats that old saying...He who fails to plan plans to fail !

David Jefferay

Wednesday 4^th February 2015 at 2:04 pm

There is a link to a flyer at http://bit.ly/1KrmcYm that explains the idea a little further if you would like to know more.

Stuart Redgard

Wednesday 4^th February 2015 at 9:29 pm

Great idea. Let's hope it can be got off the ground.

David - I am prepared to help you look into the practicalities of this.

Fred Rayers

Thursday 5^th February 2015 at 7:58 am

My suspicion is that Council officers like double yellow lines because they are easy to enforce. One quick look - vehicle on double yellow - book it.

All the other options require close examination of permits or repeated visits to check how long a vehicle has been parked.

John Clegg

Thursday 5^th February 2015 at 10:14 am

Is it really difficult to solve this problem?
Encouraging driveway use just lets the council not address the problem now, and merely passes it on the future.

Thursday 5^th February 2015 at 11:58 am

Thanks Stuart, I'll give you a shout if it is looking like the idea has potential.

Howard Piltz

Thursday 5^th February 2015 at 3:43 pm

A little uneasy with the thought of allowing somebody to use my driveway, but guess if its only the same person each time then maybe. It would certainly be a good idea if you're going on holiday ! As it is I think I live too far outside the village centre and in any case there's no space !

Sally Hoare

Thursday 5^th February 2015 at 5:35 pm

Anything that eliminates the current random parking is worth looking into.

Oliver Romain

Thursday 5^th February 2015 at 11:45 pm

We recently received a hand delivered note from a local office worker looking for weekday driveway parking. I understand the worker found a drive.

They offered a tenner a week. Not bad money for something you won't miss.

Not sure if the voluntary work element will catch on - it over complicates a simple solution. If the drivers had spare time they would street park further out and walk.

Brian Hull

Wednesday 11^th February 2015 at 11:38 am

As already stated by others, there are already schemes in place (easily found on the internet) which match up people who want to rent out drive space with those who wish to find a cheaper way to park. The only new element to this idea is to accept community service in lieu of payment - which I think is unenforceable and could be abused.

I don't think the Council should be involved in schemes where money changes hands for what is a private arrangement as there will be all sorts of unforeseen complications. What happens on a private road for example? Should such payments be declared for tax and so on.

The Council should be ensuring that all new commercial developments contain adequate parking and look into the provision of improved parking near to the railway station and the town centre at an affordable cost to the motorist.

Sarah Groom

Saturday 14^th February 2015 at 11:18 pm

As said there are driveway parking links on the internet already, I think it is something people want to organise privately rather than through 3rd parties and voluntary groups. Parking in residential areas though is annoying, can be dangerous and is also unsightly. I would be for permit parking only or parking limited to an hour. Wilmslow has excellent rail links which should be used more by these commuters. Also, is the multi storey full on a daily basis? If not, why can't commuters use this, that's why it was built.

Monday 16^th February 2015 at 9:57 pm

Thanks for your comments, folks. Very useful.
Brian, I think you're right and that is why I put it out there as a Residents of Wilmslow thing rather than as a council initiative.