A questionnaire from Powys County Council to ascertain residents' reactions to their proposals for a trial Residents Parking Scheme

We have been waiting some months for this promised questionnaire and had understood that Powys had listened to residents' objections to what would probably have been a very divisive 'Street Parking' scheme.

The council's revised proposals are far from ideal and we believe their proposed annual parking permit charge of £65 per car is ridiculously high.  However, it is a first step and CRAP believes that once residents parking is secured, some of the details can be worked out later.

Powys requires approval from over 50% of affected residencies for the scheme to go ahead - and this will be difficult to achieve. Many of the houses in the council's "core zone" are second or holiday homes, some are unoccupied, others are commercial premises and numerous properties already have their own private parking.

CRAP believes it vital that as many people as possible return their questionnaires to the council, approving the proposal for a residents' parking in Hay.

To do nothing is not an option; the campaign Keep Hay Free is promoting rejection of the proposals and hoping that things will just go on as they are.  It just won't happen!  If the community rejects these proposals, parking restrictions will be fully enforced throughout the town and many residents who currently park without penalty in restricted parking zones. will find they will no longer be able to do so.

Below are the letters we have distributed to affected household in Hay:

CAMPAIGN for a REALISTIC APPROACH to PARKING

Complete your Residents Parking Scheme Questionnaire and return it as soon as possible.

If you live in a “qualifying” property you will be able to park one vehicle registered to your address in ANY restricted parking area as shown on the plan attached to the Powys questionnaire

• Residents of Church Street; Oxford Road; Belmont Road; Chancery Lane; Broad Street; Bridge Street and Brook Street, SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL and you will have equal rights to apply for a residents parking permit.

• Residents of Hay town centre, SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL and you will enjoy residents’ parking throughout the “core”area and extra residents’ parking close to you in Bell Bank.

• Residents of Bear Street, SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL and residents’ parking in your street will be formalised.

• Residents of Lion Street and Heol-y-Dwr, SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL and you will enjoy less pressure on your current parking and extra residents’ parking outside the Drill Hall.  REJECT THE PROPOSAL and cars belonging to residents, particularly those owning more than one vehicle; visitors’ cars and those owned by employees of local businesses, driven out of restricted areas will put even more pressure on the parking spaces available to you

• Owners of shops and commercial premises, SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL and parking facilities will be secured throughout the town for your valuable customers and visitors, particularly during normal trading hours when many residents are not using residents’ parking spaces

• If you enjoy private parking, SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL and ensure that there is equitable parking for all Hay residents.

If you agree with us that Powys’s proposed Residents’ Parking Permit charge is far too expensive, please record that on your form.

Hay Residents’ Parking Scheme

As a “qualifying” property in the proposed Hay residents’ parking area, you will have received an explanatory letter and questionnaire from Powys.

Approximately 350 premises will be affected by these proposals, some are commercial premises, others enjoy private parking and some are holiday or second homes.   All are being consulted.  Powys needs approval from “more than 50% of residences” for the scheme to progress.   IT IS VITAL that if you want residents’ parking for Hay, you complete and post the form back to Powys AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

The proposals are far from ideal and the permit cost iniquitous BUT this is the last opportunity to get residents’ parking for Hay and as it is a trial; some details can be sorted out later.

We are faced with two alternatives SUPPORT THE PROPOSALS or DO NOTHING. 

There are only a very few unrestricted parking spaces in central Hay; parts of Heol-y-Dwr outside Chancery Court, parts of Lion Street by the Parish Hall and 3 spaces in Castle Lane.  If you can’t find a space there, you must park outside the town centre, over the Dulas Brook in England, in the Oxford Street Car Park, (at some considerable cost) in one of the spaces by the new river landing stage, sneak into the cattle market when it isn’t being used or risk the ire of local residents and park in Booth Gardens, Chancery Lane, De Breos Court or Black Lion Green where there are currently only limited legal parking restrictions.

IF WE DO NOTHING parking restrictions throughout Hay (including Bear Street which has largely escaped thus far) will be rigorously enforced and residents’ parking proposed for Lion Street outside the Drill Hall, the length of Church Street and in Bell Bank will not be introduced.  Residents of the few streets where unrestricted parking is permitted, particularly Lion Street and Heol-y-Dwr will be badly affected by displaced residents’ cars.

Support the proposals and we shall at least have an equitable residents’ parking scheme available to ALL RESIDENTS of the central Hay “core area”

Even if your property is a SECOND HOME or you already have your own PRIVATE PARKING, please return the form and make your views known.  Finally, remember that the introduction of residents’ parking in Hay will protect the value of your home.

CAMPAIGN for a REALISTIC APPROACH to PARKING