It's Decision Time

Adjustments and Alternatives
A lot has happened Since our last Blog. We have had a meeting with an officer from Powys County Council to try to get his viewpoint on our preliminary suggestions. His comments are outlined below.
Councillor Gareth Ratcliffe held surgeries on Thursday morning at Hay Market and in the afternoon, at Hay Library. Both events were very well attended and questionnaires were distributed. Hopefully, the questionnaire will also be on this blog if you wish to download it and return it to us at crap-powys@mail.com.
There are a number of very important decisions to be be made, particularly regarding the various alternative approaches to residents' parking in Hay and again, these are outlined below. Hopefully the Public Meeting, to be held on Thursday 25th August at Hay Parish Hall will go a long way towards achieving a consensus of local opinion.

Powys Council Officer's suggested amendments
Following a meeting with an officer from Powys County Council, the following changes to our plan were suggested.

a. All Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ) spaces should be restricted to ½ and 1 hour only (see below) Therefore ¼ hour RPZs where marked to become ½ hour RPZs

b. All RPZs outside Zone 1 should be 1 hour only (RPZ outside Swan Hotel could be single exception at 2 hours)

c. All RPZs to be operational 9:00am to 5:00pm

d. All RPZs to be operational 7 days per week

RPZs on plan are acceptable except:

e. No RPZ outside Black Lion in Lion Street

f. No RPZ outside Club in Market Street

Extra Car Parking Bay

g. One extra ½ hr space could be created in Castle Street, close to junction with Belmont Road

h. RPZs where marked on plan in outside areas should be Residents Only parking not mixed allowing 1 hour Parking as well. Some proportion will have to remain as 1 hour parking.

i. Residents Parking Permit (R1) should allow parking in Residents Only RPZs and Town Centre Long Term Car Park in Hay only

j. Trade Dispensation Permit is not recommended

k. Special Dispensation Permits should be issued very sparingly and restricted to carefully defined users.

Pedestrian Crossing

l. No pedestrian crossing is practical in Broad Street by Clock Tower as approximately 6 parking spaces would be lost.

m. Consideration could be given to a pedestrian crossing in Castle Street, by Jones Hardware

Extra Car Parking

n. It was agreed that current public car parking in Hay is inadequate and support could be given to creation of extra space (mix of Residents’ and Pay & Display) in Cattle Market subject to agreement with land owner and lessee. (Lease due to be renewed March 2012.)

Important Questions

Please pick up a questionnaire from the library in Hay or at the meeting on Thursday. Your opinions are vital.

Decisions to be made

1. Which of the two alternatives, mixed Residents and 1 Hour Parking or Residents Only is preferable in outer streets?

Alternative 1. shows the outer areas being largely one hour parking which is also available for residents.

Alternative 2. shows the outer area almost totally dedicated to Residents’ Parking

Considerations are as follows

Alternative 1.

Pros

More overall spaces available to residents
Should residents find space taken by non-residents, they will only have to wait a maximum of one hour for space.
One hour waiting limit will persuade most visitors to park in Car Park.
Residents will not be seen to be ‘nimby’ selfishly reserving maximum space for themselves

Cons

Fewer dedicated Residents Only Parking places
Potential confusion unless signage is clear

Alternative 2.

Pros

More dedicated Residents Only Parking places
Clarity - Visitors in Zone 1 or the Car Park, Residents in outer streets.

Cons

Fewer parking spaces will be available to residents as some (probably 20 – 25%) from Alternative 1 will have to become dedicated 1 hour spaces.
Not sympathetic to traders’ needs for maximum limited time customer parking.
Can and probably will be perceived as very selfish approach, particularly if spaces are seen to be available in Residents’ Parking areas when Zone 1 and Car Park full.
Residents parking is already limited in Bear Street; Hoel-y-Dwr & Church Street all of which will be particularly affected as some of the existing space will have to be reserved for 1 hour parking resulting in even fewer Residents places.

2. Do we proceed with trying to get a one-way system in Lion Street from the Clock Tower ?

Pros
More car parking spaces including, hopefully a disabled space.
Fewer problems of larger vehicles trying to turn left into Lion Street towards Clock Tower.
Less traffic congestion in Clock Tower area

Cons
Perhaps forcing more traffic into Brook Street and Hoel-y-Dwr busier

3. Is our suggestion of Zone 1 with no Residents’ Parking acceptable

4. Do we make an exception of the area outside The Swan Hotel, keeping it as a 2 hour parking area? Whether it becomes 1 hour or 2 hours, will any Residents’ Parking be provided there?

6. What is your opinion of the level of proposed Residents Parking charges?

Keep watching!