The long and slow process of introducing Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) in Rye has taken another step closer. At a recent stakeholder meeting, Rother District Council (RDC) brought together a range of groups, including Rye town councillors, to discuss and agree a way to tackle illegal parking across the district.
Attendees at the meeting were posed the three questions, previously covered in Rye News, relating to the introduction of CPE and who should cover the cost of parking.
The meeting heard that the introduction of CPE could take approximately 18 to 24 months to apply for and implement. The CPE application process will involve East Sussex County Council (ESCC) completing detailed studies across the district, as well as undertaking a consultation exercise with the public/relevant organisations where all forms of parking options would be considered, for example road markings, payment machines and permit schemes.
The meeting heard that it would be important to design a fair scheme that was self-financing and that all fees and charges would be annually reviewed. It was also thought important that parking charges should be affordable and relate to local wages and offer a number of different ways to pay – such as via contactless or smartphone/app payments.
The meeting agreed that road markings would need to be refreshed in places, especially where double yellow lines have faded, and that all car-park signage be reviewed and updated, particularly directing drivers to long-stay and little-used car parks such as at Gibbet Marsh.
Attendees agreed that it was important to discourage all-day on street parking, unless with a valid permit. ESCC confirmed that time restrictions could be introduced, adaptations/adjustments made to suit specific locations, and that parking displacement would be monitored and annually reviewed.
Sussex Police would continue to enforce dangerous parking infringements, subject to available resources, in the run-up to the introduction of CPE, although as most residents in Rye currently know, this rarely occurs.
RDC is leading the changes via its Civil Parking Enforcement Task and Finish Group. The Group is presenting its findings and recommendations to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on March 19, for referral to Cabinet on April 9 and then full Council on May 21. In addition, there is the possibility of RDC partnering with Wealden District Council, which is also considering adopting CPE, and this could achieve economies of scale. Timescales therefore might change so watch this space.
For a full breakdown of the minutes of the stakeholder meeting go to Rother′s website.
Photo: John Minter
