Residents in call for more parking schemes

Following the implementation of the “light touch” parking schemes in certain areas of Brighton and Hove, which allow residents only to park for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon or evening, plans to improve parking in other areas are moving forward.

A petition with more than 300 signatures has been submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council by residents calling for the extended Surrenden area to be included in consultations about parking schemes in 2018/2019.

Mary Allen, a Surrenden area resident who handed in the petition to the council, said: “We are finding it virtually impossible to park anywhere near our houses.

“Small children and older people are often walking several hundred yards from where they park to where they live.”

The Surrenden area includes all roads within the boundaries of Surrenden Road, Surrenden Crescent, London Road and the bottom half of Preston Drove.

Those living in other areas, such as Upper Hollingdean Road, have also urged the council to introduce parking schemes to allow residents to park closer to home.

Robert Deas, an Upper Hollingdean Road resident, said: “We want a controlled parking zone on the stretch of road in front of our properties.

“Over the last couple of years all of the other surrounding roads have been added to resident parking schemes.

“We are now surrounded by controlled parking schemes putting intense pressure on parking in our road.”

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said she understood residents’ concerns.

She said: “The final consultation area will be determined following discussions with councillors.

“The committee will then be asked to give approval to the final consultation area for 2018/2019.

“We only put in schemes where people want them.

“Clearly lots of people want them and most like them once installed.

“They’re generally making life easier.”