Hay-on-Wye Resident’s Parking Proposals

 

January 2013 (second revision 20^th February 2013)

These proposals are the result of months of discussion and consultation with residents, traders and visitors to Hay-on-Wye.  They enjoy the support of Hay Town Council and have been designed to meet residents’ desires for simple to understand, practical and affordable car parking close to their homes whilst addressing the legitimate needs of the town’s traders to provide adequate on-street car parking for visitors and shoppers.

These proposals are designed to be cost neutral, limiting expenditure through taking advantage as far as possible of existing signage and road markings whilst increasing revenue through encouraging greater use of existing Pay and Display car parks, sale of Residents’ and Visitors’ Parking Permits and the creation of greater future income through the provision of a new 48 vehicle capacity Pay and Display Car Park on the Cattle Market Car Park site.        

It is hoped that these proposals can be used by other communities throughout Powys as a basis for adaptation to meet their own particular circumstances and parking needs.

It is proposed that the town be divided into the following zones or areas.

RED ZONE (ZONE 1.)     MAIN RETAIL & COMMERCIAL AREA 

There will be no special dispensation for residents’ parking within the Red Zone outside designated Residents’ Only Parking Zones (RPZs)

Parking in Zone 1 will be restricted to:

• Pay & Display Car Park in Market Square to include two (2) new spaces outside HSBC Bank

• Disabled Parking in defined bays in Castle Street.

• One (1) hour time limited RPZs as shown on plans. Restrictions applicable between 8:00am and 6:00pm Monday to Saturday except RPZs in Lion Street above Clock Tower (1.); Lion Street, outside Hay Deli (2.) and Bull Ring outside the Royal British Legion Club (6.) where overnight parking might cause problems i.e.  

• Designated Residents Only RPZs as shown on plans.  Parking restricted to vehicles displaying a current Residents’ Parking Permit 24 hours per day 7 days per week.

No parking will be allowed in RPZs or Pay and Display Car Park in Market Square and Clock Tower area to allow for market operations on Thursdays and authorised ‘special events’.

PROPOSED NEW & ALTERED RPZs WITHIN Red Zone (Zone 1.)

1. It is proposed that two (2) new 30 Minute Parking Bays are created at the top (South) of the Clock Tower area of Lion Street where the street is sufficiently wide before narrowing beside CommuniKate and Booth’s Book Shop.  It is proposed this RPZ will be enforceable 24 hours to prohibit overnight parking which might interfere with large vehicle essential early morning deliveries.

2. An RPZ allowing two (2) new One Hour parking bays will be created in Lion street, approximately outside Hay Deli.  This RPZ, positioned in the widest part of that section of Lion Street, will formalise what is common parking practice, permit larger vehicles to turn right on entering from High Town yet leave space for trade vehicles servicing shops in the street.  It is proposed this RPZ will be enforceable 24 hours to prohibit overnight parking which might interfere with Post Office deliveries/collections and large vehicle essential early morning deliveries.

3. Existing 30 minute RPZ in Castle Street will be extended to allow One Hour parking.

4. The Western end of the existing One Hour RPZ (presently a 30 minute RPZ) in Castle Street will be extended towards the junction with Belmont Road to create one (1) additional One Hour parking bay without causing any interference to traffic flow.

5. Two (2) new parking bays will be created in Market Square, immediately outside the HSBC Bank.  These bays will be incorporated into the Market Square Pay and Display car park and the same conditions governing the car park will apply.  These spaces will be suspended for market operations.

6. An RPZ allowing two (2) new One Hour parking bays will be created in the Bull Ring outside the Royal British Legion Club building close to its junction with Market Street.   This RPZ, positioned in the part of the Bull Ring where there is currently no pavement, will formalise what is common parking practice, and not interfere unduly with traffic flow.  It is proposed this RPZ will be enforceable 24 hours to prohibit overnight parking which might interfere with large vehicle essential early morning deliveries.

7. The present unregulated parking area under the castle wall at the junction of Castle Street and The Bull Ring will be designated a dedicated Residents’ Only RPZ providing three (3) new spaces.

8. A new dedicated Residents’ Only RPZ providing Four (4) parking spaces will be created in the unregulated area in Chancery Lane immediately East of the building cornering Broad Street, (Gabb’s Solicitors) to the entrance to the private car parking area behind Booth’s Bookshop, opposite and West of the library car park, providing four (4) new spaces.

9. A new dedicated Residents’ RPZ will be created in Chancery Lane, East of its junction with Brook Street running to the bollard restricting street width outside ‘Owl Cottage’.  The propose RPZ will continue South from that point along the adopted but unregulated lane to the rear of ‘The Old Forge’ to its junction with Lion Street, where it will cross to include the lane opposite and end at the point where that lane narrows and turns West to emerge beside the Kilvert Arms.  This will not restrict any through traffic flow, formalise what is common parking practice and provide useful regulated parking for the numerous small residences in the area.

Other existing RPZs within the Red Zone (Zone 1.) will remain unchanged other than that all restrictions excepting dedicated Residents Only RPZs will operate Monday to Saturday, from 8:00am to 6:00pm and determine No Return within 2 Hours.  (see under PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND SIGNAGE)

See attached plans for locations and conditions applying to existing and proposed RPZs.

GREEN ZONE (ZONE 2.) STREETS ADJACENT TO MAIN RETAIL AREA

This area is defined as being from Heol-y-Dwr in the East to Oxford Road in the South to Broad Street/Belmont Road to the North and Church Street to the West.

Vehicles displaying a current and valid Residents’ parking Permit must adhere to the following conditions when parking in the Green Zone (Zone 2).

• Vehicles displaying a current and valid Residents’ parking Permit are permitted unrestricted parking in designated Residents’ Only RPZs within the Green Zone (Zone 2) as shown on plans.

• Vehicles displaying a current and valid Residents’ parking Permit are permitted unrestricted parking in 1 Hour and 2 Hour RPZs as shown on plans.  Restrictions are applicable to all other vehicles which must be parked in accordance with displayed time limitations.   

• All vehicles including those displaying a current and valid Residents’ parking Permit must adhere to stated time limitations in designated 30 Minute RPZs.

PROPOSED NEW & ALTERED RPZs WITHIN Green Zone (Zone 2.)

1. An RPZ will be created by formalising the existing unregulated bays outside the Council Offices below (North of) the Clock Tower, providing four (4) 1 hour parking bays, suspended on Thursdays for market operations. Powys CC to advise on how signage and/or road markings can prevent prevalent double rank parking.

2. The East side of Heol-y-Dwr for approximately 20 metres length opposite the junction of Brook Street and Heol-y-Dwr, will be designated a No Waiting At Any Time, No Loading area to facilitate large vehicles exiting Brook Street into Heol-y-Dwr. 

3. The North side of Heol-y-Dwr from approximately opposite the vehicular entrance to Poplar House, except for the 20 metre No Waiting At Any Time, No Loading area referred to above, to the entrance to Booth Gardens will be designated a 2 Hour RPZ. The pedestrian entrance to properties in The Gardens should be protected from obstruction by parked vehicles with an ‘H’ bar painted on the road surface.

4. The unregulated parking area on the West side Heol-y-Dwr from outside Chancery Court to approximately opposite 5 Albert Terrace, will be designated a 2 Hour RPZ.

5. The unregulated parking area in Lion Street, from opposite the Parish Hall to the road width restriction close to its junction with Heol-y-Dwr, excepting that area outside the Constitutional Club will be designated a 1 Hour RPZ.  The Westernmost end of that RPZ outside Nos. 8 to 10 Chancery Lane will be marked single row, side by side parking, the balance parallel parking as at present.

6. The unregulated parking area in Lion Street, at the junction with Bear Street, outside ‘The Blacksmiths’ will be designated a 2 Hour RPZ providing three (3) parking bays.  The RPZ to the North of the ‘H’ bar outside the pedestrian entrance to ‘The Blacksmiths’ should be enlarged to permit (1) one vehicle parking bay in addition to the remaining space allowing two (2) bays South of the ‘H’ bar.

7. An RPZ allowing four (4) new 1 Hour parking bays will be created in Lion Street outside The Drill Hall.  This RPZ, positioned in the widest part of that section of Lion Street, will formalise what is common parking practice.  It will allow adequate vision for vehicles exiting Gittins Garage and be clear of the junction of Lion Street and Oxford Road.

8. An RPZ allowing three (3) new 30 minute parking bays will be created in Oxford Road immediately opposite the National Westminster Bank outside, but not obscuring the entrance to ‘Cae Mawr’.  This will provide very useful short term parking space particularly for users of the bank’s ATM and will formalise what is current common parking practice. This new RPZ will have the effect of creating a traffic restricting ‘chicane’ which will help moderate sometimes excessive traffic speeds in Oxford Road.

9. The current RPZ on the South side of Church Street, outside the Cinema Bookshop will be shortened by approximately 2 metres at its West end to create a 2 Hour RPZ providing three (3) parking spaces.  This RPZ has the effect of creating a traffic restricting ‘chicane’ which whilst causing occasional inconvenience to some motorists, does help moderate sometimes excessive traffic speeds in Church Street. 

10. Powys County Council will not be responsible for enforcing any restrictions in unadopted Roads and cul-de-sacs within the Green Zone (Zone 2).  Owners will operate their own restrictions and be responsible for controlling them. 

11. All adopted and presently undesignated roads in the Green Zone (Zone 2) will become designated Residents Only RPZs. (de Breos Court, Carlsgate etc.)

All RPZs within the Green Zone (Zone 2) excepting 30 Minute RPZs will be operative Monday to Saturday from 8:00am to 6:00pm and determine No Return for 2 hours.  (see under PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND SIGNAGE)

See attached plans for locations of existing and proposed RPZs.

ZONE 3.      DESIGNATED OFF-ROAD PARKING AREAS

Current designated Off-Road car parking is provided by the Oxford Road Pay and Display car park.

This is frequently unable to meet demand from visitors to Hay, particularly in summer months, on market days, Bank Holidays and when special events are taking place in the town.   Additional off-road car parking is urgently required. 

It is therefore recommended that that the possibility of using all or part of the current vehicle parking (non-livestock) section of the cattle market, should be examined as a practical answer to the problem of lack of visitor and residents’ parking.

The lease on the Cattle Market is due for imminent renewal in March 2013 and it is vital that Powys County Council negotiate any granting or renewal of the new lease to allow for use of part of the site as a mix of Pay and Display and dedicated Residents’ Only parking to meet the needs of residents living in Church Street and the immediate locality .

It is extremely important that any area provided for parking in the cattle market is isolated from the important Motte and Bailey earthworks which might be incorporated to become an attractive feature of the site.

It is considered that a longer term answer might be a car park established on the parcel of land immediately to the North of Hay Bridge, to the East of the B4351 opposite ‘The Start’. 

The site is unobtrusive and effectively obscured from general view by the brow of the hill to the North and to the South by mature trees growing on the Radnorshire bank of the river.  This site is as close to the Clock Tower as the current Oxford Road Car Park and would usefully service businesses and residents in that part of the town.   It is believed that development of a car park on this site will have a beneficial effect on and contribute to the resurgence of commerce in the Northern part of Hay town centre.

Powys County Council should give urgent attention to earmarking this site for use as a future car park and Clyro Community Council kept informed of any planned development.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS & SIGNAGE

Parking restrictions in Hay-on-Wye should be limited to the following:

No Parking Areas

1.       Double yellow lines - No Parking at any time with certain exceptions for loading and unloading etc.

2.       Double yellow lines + No Loading sign – No parking at any time other than for emergency vehicles.

Pay and Display Parking

For the benefit of longer term visitors and to obviate the necessity of an early visit to the car park to ‘feed’ the meter, the Pay and Display machines in the Oxford Road Car Park should be updated to allow tickets to be issued for up to 5 days in multiples of 24 hour periods.

In the shorter term until the introduction of new machines or updating of existing machines, signs should indicate that tickets for longer term parking are available from various local outlets including Hay Tourist Office and the proposed Hay Together Hay Castle Office.

If the proposal to convert part of the Cattle Market vehicle park into additional parking when the market is not in use, this could provide much needed additional Pay and Display visitor parking. (see DESIGNATED OFF-ROAD PARKING above)

Disabled Parking Bays

Parking restricted to vehicles displaying valid Disabled badge.  Vehicles displaying valid Disabled badges will also have the right to park in any One or Two Hour RPZs in both Zones 1 and 2 in Hay for a period of up to Three Hours.

Residents Only Parking

Operative 7 days a week, 24 hours per day.   

Time Restricted Parking Zones

All signs will display a coloured square or strip - Red for Red Zone (Zone 1) and Green for Green Zone (Zone 2) to indicate within which zone the sign is situated.

There will be no special dispensation for residents’ vehicles parking within the Red Zone (Zone 1) outside designated Residents’ Only RPZs

There will be no special dispensation for residents’ vehicles parking in 30 Minute RPZs where parking restrictions will apply to all vehicles at all times.

Parking in One and Two Hour Time RPZs is limited to cars and vans; no trailers, vehicles weighing over 2.5 tons or HGVs are permitted.

Time Restricted Parking Zones (RPZs) as shown on plan will be:

1.       7 days a week  

All times

30 minutes Parking,

No return within 2 hours

2.       Monday to Saturday

8:00am – 6:00pm 

1 Hour Parking,

No return within 2 hours

3.       Monday to Saturday

8:00am – 6:00pm

2 Hours Parking

No return within 2 hours

Some RPZs in town centre will be suspended for regular market operations

Some designated RPZs will use defined marked parking bays to prevent misuse, dangerous and inconsiderate parking.

PARKING PERMITS

Powys Parking Permit

Cost:            12 months - £150.00           6 months - £80.00              3 months - £40.00

Currently obtainable from Powys County Council and displaying to and from validation date and

vehicle registration number.

• Entitles vehicle displaying valid permit to park in certain Powys council’s long term car parks.

Residents’ Parking Permit

Limited to vehicles registered to a qualifying address, subject to proof of residence.  Permit to be surrendered if vehicle sold or relocates.

• A Residents’ Parking Permit is valid only within Hay-on-Wye.
• A Residents’ Parking Permit is only valid for the period recorded and for the vehicle bearing the registration number marked on the Permit.
• Ownership or display of a Residents’ Parking Permit does not guarantee a parking place.
• Residents are forbidden from placing cones or barriers in the road to reserve a parking place without specific authorisation.
• Vehicles must be parked within defined Parking Bays where marked.
• Ownership or display of a Residents’ Parking Permit does obviate compliance with time parking restrictions within Zone 1. or in 30 minute Restricted Parking Zones.

Residents’ Parking Permits will be issued for a period of 12 months and limited to a maximum of two Permits per residence (unit of occupation liable for council tax) in Hay-on-Wye. 

Cost: 1 Permit - £52.00               2^nd Permit - £78.00            

Residents’ Parking Permits will be obtainable from Powys County Council, Hay Public Library and from various local outlets including Hay Tourist Office and the proposed Hay Together Hay Castle Office.

Residents’ Parking Permits will display to and from validation date and vehicle registration number.

Vehicles displaying a current and valid Residents’ Parking Permits are entitled to park for any period in any Residents Only RPZ in Hay or any 1 or 2 Hour RPZ outside Zone 1.

Changes and Refunds

Should any owner of a Residents’ Parking Permit change the registered vehicle, the old Permit must be surrendered and a new Permit will be issued with the new vehicle details and registration number.

Should a Permit no longer be required it may be surrendered and a refund issued amounti ng to the unexpired period remaining on the Permit.  

Surrender Refunds

Permits with up to 9 months remaining – 75% of fee (£39.00)

Permits with up to 6 months remaining – 50% of fee (£26.00)

Permits with up to 3 months remaining – 25% of fee (£13.00)

Charges Made for Changes

All changes and refunds made to Residents’ Parking Permits will be liable to a £10.00 administration fee.    

Special Dispensation Parking Permit (SD)

Cost:            12 months £ NIL

Obtainable from Powys County Council only and displaying to and from validation date and vehicle registration number.  Designed for use by essential workers/services, doctors, nurses, health visitors etc.   To be displayed only when on call.

Allows vehicle to park in any Residents Only or One or Two Hour Time RPZ within Hay-on-Wye outside Zone 1. for a maximum of two hours.

Hay-on-Wye Temporary (visitors) Parking Permit (TP)

It is proposed that ONE DAY Temporary Parking Permit sheets are printed in booklets of five or ten parking ‘occasions’ and available at a cost of £4.00 each.  This cost is set significantly higher than the cost of parking ‘all day’ in Oxford Road Car Park in order to try to maximise use of the car park for longer term parking.

Each Permit will permit parking for the displayed period in any 1 or 2 Hour RPZ within the Green Zone (Zone 2) for visitors and trade users and will be displayed inside window on the driver’s side for ease of reading.

Temporary Parking Permits will record for each parking ‘occasion’, the day, date and start time and the registration number of the vehicle.  The permit will necessitate the required information is recorded in ink and that once used, each used permit is ‘spoiled’ by tearing off or folding back an indicated ‘tab’ to prohibit re-use.  Please see example attached to this report. 

It is suggested that Temporary (Visitor) Parking Permits are validated at point of sale with an embossed stamp to prevent the use of forged Permits.

Temporary (Visitor) Parking Permits will be available to all, whether residents of Hay-on-Wye or not and will be obtainable from Powys County Council, Hay Public Library and from various local outlets including Hay Tourist Office and the proposed Hay Together Hay Castle Office.  The use of Temporary (Visitor) Parking Permits should limit Temporary On-Street Parking Dispensation Certificate applications made to Powys County Council and will produce significant income over time.

Temporary On-Street Parking Dispensation Certificate.

Available only from the County Council Parking Authority and necessitating a three working day application period.   For the situating of a builder’s skip or for the use of traders working in the street or at adjacent properties to apply for the short-term, non emergency use of a vehicle in contravention of the on-street restrictions.

Dispensations are to be charged for and provided at the Parking Authority’s discretion.  Applications will only be approved where road safety and traffic management is not compromised.

Pedestrian Crossings

There is an established need and much repeated request for the installation of a pedestrian crossing in Broad Street approximately between Jones Hardware and the Blue Boar.  It is proposed that Powys County Council conduct a feasibility study into the practicality of installing a pedestrian crossing at this location.

INTRODUCTORY SCHEME

It is suggested that Hay-on-Wye Parking proposals are publicised widely to the local community and an introductory two week scheme be undertaken when parking in the town will be closely monitored and tickets issued to offending vehicles.  For this two week introductory period, these tickets will be a ‘Warning Only’ but for maximum impact, will be designed, and fixed to offending vehicles to closely resemble the issuing of normal Penalty Notices.

Additional Car Parking Spaces provided by proposals

1 new 1 Hour bay in Castle Street close to junction with Belmont Road

2 new 1 Hour bays in Lion Street before junction with Brook Street

2 new 1 Hour bays in Bell Bank outside Club

4 new 1 Hour bays in Lion Street outside Drill Hall

2 new 30 Minute bays in Lion Street by Clock Tower

2 new 30 minute bays in Oxford Road opposite Nat West Bank

2 new Pay and Display spaces in Market Square outside HSBC Bank

Plus:

Potential 12 (plus) new Residents’ spaces in Cattle Market car park

Potential 36 (plus) new visitors’ spaces in Cattle Market

Current unregulated Car Parking spaces to be regulated by proposals

Four (4) 1 hour parking bays below (North of) the Clock Tower

Three (3) 1 hour parking bays in Lion Street outside ‘The Blacksmiths’

Three (3) Residents’ Only bays at junction of Castle Street and The Bull Ring

1 hour RPZ in Heol-y-Dwr opposite Brook Street

1 hour RPZ in Heol-y-Dwr outside Chancery Court

1 hour RPZ in Lion Street opposite Parish Hall

1 hour RPZ in Lion Street before junction with Heol-y-Dwr

Four (4) Residents’ Only bays in Chancery Lane outside Gabbs Solicitors

Residents’ RPZ in Chancery Lane East of Brook Street

Residents’ RPZ in lane from Chancery Lane to the Kilvert Arms

Residents’ Only RPZs in Adopted cul-de-sacs and closes