More parking spaces for borough residents

People living in the Windsor town centre area and parts of Maidenhead will benefit from more residents' parking spaces, thanks the council's recent review of yellow lines.

From Monday March 3 more than 170 additional parking spaces are being created in more than 30 of Windsor's narrow streets by adding extra residents' bays, shortening double yellow lines near junctions and changing double yellow lines to singles.

Tying in with the council's new parking enforcement powers, this first phase of the borough-wide yellow lines review followed consultation with councillors who were asked to identify roads in their wards where there was a potential for line changes that would make it easier for their residents to park.  They proposed a total of 62 sites, more than half in the terraced streets of central Windsor where there is intense pressure on the available parking spaces to cope with residents' needs, particularly in the evenings and overnight.

Part of phase 1 is a pilot scheme in three narrow one-way streets – Duke Street South, Temple Road and Albany Road – where double yellow lines are being changed to singles, allowing residents to park in the evenings and at weekends.  The pilot will be monitored carefully over the next few months to see if it can be used in other areas.

The council is also in discussion with town centre businesses where employee parking is underused in the evenings and at weekends and could provide much-needed parking for nearby residents.

Complementary to the yellow lines review are changes to pay and display parking in town centre residential streets, making it easier for local people to park after 5.30pm during the week and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and environment, said the additional spaces created by the first phase of the yellow lines review was a welcome parking boost – but it would not meet all the demand.

He said:  "The pressure on parking in Windsor town centre is intense.  There simply is not enough space for modern needs and the council is looking for innovative ways of increasing availability so that residents can park near their own homes wherever possible.

"Now that the council has taken over control of parking enforcement from the police, we are giving priority to local residents in the evenings.  We hope local people will appreciate these changes and they can be assured that the council is looking into every possibility to increase parking in a town that was built for horse-drawn carriages and is understandably struggling to deal with 21st century demands.

"This is only the first phase of the review and we welcome feedback from residents about how we can find more parking spaces in our town centre.  We need your help so we can help you!"

Additional parking spaces will also be provided in two Maidenhead streets, and parking improvements have been carried out to streets in both Datchet and Ascot.

This first phase of the ongoing yellow lines review will be monitored to assess its effectiveness before further phases are introduced in other parts of the borough.

The council is also working on a long-term parking strategy for Windsor.  A progress report is on the agenda for the cabinet meeting in March with an action plan to be ready during the summer.

Cllr Rayner also issued an appeal to local businesses where employee car parks are not used at weekends and evenings.  He said:  "We want to talk to you to see if your company can help alleviate the shortage of parking in Windsor."

Free evening parking
Resident parking permit holders who cannot find a parking space near their home in the evenings can take advantage of free parking in one of the Royal Borough's convenient car parks in Windsor and Maidenhead.

Use free evening parking with a resident permit or yellow Advantage Card at the following car parks:
Maidenhead: Stafferton Way, Grove Road, West Street and the Town Hall (Park Street entrance)
Windsor: Victoria Street, East Berkshire College, Alma Road, Alexandra Gardens, King Edward VII (Datchet Road), Romney Lock and York House (Sheet Street).

Notes:

1. An additional 116 parking spaces will be available from Monday March 3 in the following streets: Windsor – Barry Avenue (2), Vansittart Road (8), Albert Street (3), Arthur Road (6), Oxford Road (4), Alma Road (6), St Mark's Road (7), Queen's Road (1), Alexandra Road (1), St Leonards Road (11), Grove Road (6), Devereux Road (1), Dagmar Road (1), Keppel Street (3), Park Street (7), Clarence Crescent (6), Frances Road (4), Stovell Road (10), High Street (8), Kings Road (5). Maidenhead – Kings Grove (12), Grenfell Road (4).
   
2. More than 70 parking spaces are being created by the pilot scheme in Duke Street South, Temple Road and Albany Road, Windsor.
   
3. In several other streets in Windsor, Maidenhead, Datchet and Ascot changes to yellow lines have been carried out to make it easier for residents to park, although it has not been possible to increase the number of parking spaces.