APPENDIX 1 Background to the Bower Ashton Residents' Parking Scheme proposals The RPS proposals meet the objectives of the Council's overall transport

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6 APPENDIX 1 Background to the Bower Ashton Residents' Parking Scheme proposals The RPS proposals meet the objectives of the Council's overall transport strategy as set out in the Joint Local Transport Plan Parking controls are recognised as a key part of sustainable urban transport policy, which in itself is vital to the development of a greener, healthier city. They help to reduce and better manage traffic entering the central area, especially during the peak periods when traffic congestion is at its worst, and to encourage commuters to travel to work using more sustainable modes of transport than the private car. On 27 th June 2013 the Council's Cabinet approved a report which recommended that the Council develop proposals for RPS areas around the city centre, including the Bower Ashton area. The Council believes that the scheme will deliver significant benefits in the local area by making it easier for local residents and their visitors and organisations situated within the area to park nearby and by reducing the amount of traffic circulating around the area searching for a space. Experience from Bristol's existing RPS schemes is that streets become quieter and safer due to the reduction in traffic, it is easier and safer for pedestrians to walk around the area and access to properties is improved, which benefits people with limited mobility and ensures that access for deliveries and emergency vehicles is as easy as possible. The measures were proposed for the purpose of: avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using the road or any other road or for preventing the likelihood of any such danger arising facilitating the passage on the road or any other road of any class of traffic (including pedestrians) preventing the use of the road by vehicular traffic of a kind which, or its use by vehicular traffic in a manner which, is unsuitable having regard to the existing character of the road or adjoining property preserving or improving the amenities of the area through which the road runs. assessment and management of the quality of air pursuant to paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) of Section 87 of the Environment Act 1995 (air quality) Bower Ashton is unique, in that it is a small self-contained area outside the city centre. It consists of narrow residential roads/lanes with specific parking pressures from Ashton Court Estate, Ashton Park Secondary School, the UWE campus as well as match day parking from nearby Bristol City Football Club. The Bower Ashton RPS has been designed differently to other RPS s in the City to reflect this unique position. Most roads within the area will be subject to a Permit Parking area, (operational at all times), whereby there will be entry/exit signs, but no marked bays, in keeping with the rural feel of the area. In March 2012 the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership prioritised a request from the Bower Ashton Residents Association to provide funding to promote a Traffic Regulation Order for a residents parking scheme in the Bower Ashton Area. Subsequently, the scheme is now being processed as part of the wider on-going 1

7 Corporate RPS Programme. Consultations took place with residents during 2012 and initial proposals were developed in March They were made available online and letters were sent to local residents to provide people with the opportunity to comment on the proposals. Following this, some changes were made to the design of the scheme, in order to develop the final proposals, which consist of a Permit Parking Area throughout most of the area, operational 24 hours of every day and some mixed use Permit Parking or Pay and Display parking places, operational Mon to sat 9am to 9pm (3hrs max for P&D), on part of Kennel Lodge Road, for parking for access to local amenities. Other measures are no waiting at any time and mandatory school keep clear markings. The final proposals were subject to statutory advertisement from 10 th June to 1 st July Local organisations were also consulted directly at this time. 19 objections, 7 expressions of support but with requests for amendments and 3 expressions of full support were received. Also, a request for an amendment was received from the UWE Campus in response to direct consultation with them. The main objections are summarised as follows, along with officer responses (see appendix 2 for a full summary of all the objections): There should to be more double yellow lines at narrow bends and to protect accesses. There should be less double yellow lines, they are unnecessary and would damage the rural atmosphere of the conservation area. It is considered that the proposals represent a good balance, providing protection at narrow bends and accesses, without being too intrusive on the rural character of the area. There will be nowhere for staff and students of UWE and Ashton Park School to park. The allotments, UWE and School are part of the community and should not be excluded from the scheme. The school and UWE should be eligible for business/customer permits. Allotment tenants should be eligible for permits. All of these establishments have some off street parking facilities. One of the strategic aims of the RPS scheme is to reduce commuter traffic and dependence on car use. It is designed to prioritise parking in the wider residential area for use by local residents and their visitors. It is also intended to encourage people to travel to work using more sustainable modes of transport. The council is committed to helping employers in developing work place travel plans. Some Pay & Display parking (mixed use) is available for parking to access amenities in the area. Provisions for allotments holders in all RPS areas in the City are to be reviewed and any subsequent amendments can be incorporated in any proposals following a 6 month review of the scheme. UWE, the School, the Council s allotment Manager and the Council s Ashton Court Estate manager were consulted individually as part 2

8 of the statutory process. UWE s response is summarised in Appendix 3. The school did not respond to this direct statutory consultation, however, the Assistant Headteacher, some staff and one pupil did submit formal objections, which are summarised in Appendix 3. There was no response from the Ashton Court Estate manager, or the Council s Allotment manager, however, objections have been submitted from the Hotwells & District Allotment Association and from some of its tenants, as summarised in Appendix 3. The P&D parking places should not apply evenings and Saturdays. The mixed use Permit Parking Places or Pay and Display Parking Places are operational Mon to Sat 9am to 9pm following consultations with local residents concerned about parking in the area due to events at Ashton Court and Bristol City Football match days. Alternative means of transport to the car are inadequate/not an option. The National Cycle Network route Festival Way has recently been completed, which runs between Queens Square, Bristol and Millennium Park, Nailsea. This runs through Ashton Court Estate and provides a continuous cycle facility between Bower Ashton and the City Centre. Including a new toucan crossing on Clanage Road. Improvements to bus stops within the vicinity have recently been carried out on Clanage Road and Ashton Road slip road (off Winterstoke Road), including raised kerbs for disabled access and real time information regarding bus times Also, Long Ashton Park and Ride is situated nearby. The Council is also investing in further measures designed to improve public transport and encourage walking and cycling. MetroBus is a 200 million investment in a new express high quality public transport network with faster and more reliable journey times, linking Hengrove to the North Fringe, via Ashton Vale/Long Ashton Park and ride, which is within walking distance of the Bower Ashton area. The first MetroBus services are expected to start operating in We do not intend to make any amendments to the scheme at this stage. However, it is intended that a six month review will be carried out, whereby consideration will be given to some of the points raised, following observations of the effects of the scheme in operation and following a review of provisions for allotment tenants in general in all RPS areas throughout the City. 3

9 Bower Ashton Residents Parking Scheme Statement of Reasons The Council has developed proposals to introduce a Residents Parking Scheme (RPS) in the Bower Ashton area. The RPS proposals meet the objectives of the Council s overall transport strategy as set out in the Joint Local Transport Plan Parking controls are recognised as a key part of sustainable urban transport policy, which in itself is vital to the development of a greener, healthier city. They help to reduce and better manage traffic entering the central area, especially during the peak periods when traffic congestion is at its worst. Bower Ashton is unique, in that it is a small self-contained area outside the city centre with specific parking pressures from Ashton Court Estate, Ashton Park Secondary School, the UWE campus as well as match day parking from nearby Bristol City Football Club. The Bower Ashton RPS has been designed differently to other RPS s in the City to reflect this unique position. The Council believes that the scheme will deliver significant benefits to the local area by making it easier for residents and their visitors to park nearby, and reduce the amount of traffic circulating the area searching for a space. Experience from Bristol s existing RPS s is that streets become quieter and safer due to the reduction in traffic, it is easier and safer for pedestrians to walk around the area and access to properties is improved, and ensures that access for deliveries and emergency vehicles is as easy as possible. The roads within the Bower Ashton scheme (apart from part of Kennel Lodge Road) will operate as a Permit Parking Area (PPA). This means that there will be signs at all entrances to inform drivers that only permit holders can park within the scheme area. We do not mark out parking bays within a PPA or install additional signs. This should retain the unique rural feel of the area. Double yellow lines will only be installed where they are required for access or road safety purposes and the existing advisory school keep clear marking in Blackmoors Lane will become mandatory. In addition, following local consultations, it is proposed that in order for the scheme to successfully deal with the various forms of parking pressure in the area, the PPA should operate every day, all of the time. The overall scheme includes the following measures, which require the support of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO): A residents permit charge structure, which will relate to Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) Bands (which are based on CO2 emissions) for the first permit, in order to improve the environmental impact of motor vehicles in the City area. Categories of permit will be: Residents, Residents Visitors, Essential Visitors, Business (including Owners of multiple properties), Customer, Traders and Medical. Residents will be able to apply for up to three permits per year Businesses and organisations will be able to apply for a combination of up to seven business/customer permits per year. Schools, charities, places of

10 worship and businesses in receipt of small business rate relief with a rateable value under 12,000 will be eligible for a discount. Medical and Traders permits allocated under this scheme will be for use in citywide Residents Parking Areas (existing and future schemes). This takes into account that these categories of road user benefit the public generally and may have a need to operate citywide. New Permit Parking Areas in Blackmoors Lane, Courtlands Lane, Kennel Lodge Road and Parklands Road, which are operational at all times (24 hours, every day) and are intended to increase parking opportunities for permit holders whilst minimising lining and signing requirements. New Permit Parking Places or Pay and Display Parking Places in Kennel Lodge Road (permit holders can park free of charge by displaying their permit). These are operational Mon-Sat 9am-9pm (with a maximum stay of 3 hours for pay & display users). These are intended to offer flexibility to local residents, schools, businesses and organisations by enabling people to park using a permit or using the pay & display facilities. No waiting at any time restrictions. These are needed to ensure that parked vehicles do not obstruct the free flow of traffic or visibility at junctions and private accesses (unless a request is received for a private access to remain unrestricted). They are also necessary to assist access by emergency, waste and delivery vehicles as well as protect pedestrian crossing points. These restrictions will comprise of revised existing arrangements or maintain other existing arrangements without change. Mandatory school keep clear/no stopping restriction in Blackmoors Lane, which is operational Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm and needed for safety in the vicinity of the pedestrian entrance to the local school. This will replace the advisory school keep clear marking currently on site. It is proposed, therefore, to introduce these measures in accordance with Section 1 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for the purpose of: avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using the road or any other road or for preventing the likelihood of any such danger arising facilitating the passage on the road or any other road of any class of traffic (including pedestrians) preventing the use of the road by vehicular traffic of a kind which, or its use by vehicular traffic in a manner which, is unsuitable having regard to the existing character of the road or adjoining property preserving or improving the amenities of the area through which the road run assessment and management of the quality of air pursuant to paragraphs (a) to (c) of subsection (1) of Section 87 of the Environment Act 1995 (air quality)

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12 APPENDIX 3 Bristol City Council Equality Impact Assessment Form (Please refer to the Equality Impact Assessment guidance when completing this form) Name of proposal Directorate and Service Area Name of Lead Officer Bower Ashton Residents Parking Scheme (RPS) Highways, Transport, Place Step 1: What is the proposal? Please explain your proposal in Plain English, avoiding acronyms and jargon. This section should explain how the proposal will impact service users, staff and/or the wider community. 1.1 What is the proposal? The proposal is to introduce an RPS area in Bower Ashton. Whilst it is part of the Council s wider transport strategy, it is intended to deliver significant benefits to the local community. This will be achieved by introducing mixed use parking places, which can be used by either permit holders or by anyone else using the pay & display facilities, and Permit Parking Areas, which have entry/exit signs but no marked bays and can be used by permit holders only. Local residents and organisations based in the area can apply for permits to use the permit parking places and mixed use parking bays. Visitors permits are available to residents for their visitors to park within the area. The proposals also include waiting restrictions and mandatory school keep clear markings. Step 2: What information do we have? Decisions must be evidence-based, and involve people with protected characteristics that could be affected. Please use this section to demonstrate understanding of who could be affected by the proposal. 2.1 What data or evidence is there which tells us who is, or could be affected? The 2011 census data for the Bower Ashton area is as follows: Total usually resident population: 110. Males: 47%, females: 53%. White total: 84%, BME total: 16%. 13% of people described their day to day activities as limited. Religion Christian 52 Buddhist 1

13 Hindu 0 Jewish 0 Muslim 4 Sikh 0 Other 0 Not stated 10 No religion Who is missing? Are there any gaps in the data? There is no data for these groups of people with protected characteristics; sexual orientation, transgender, age and pregnancy and maternity. 2.3 How have we involved, or will we involve, communities and groups that could be affected? Over-arching consultation for the residents parking schemes has sought to meet and discuss the proposals for the city and its implications with all of the groups protected by the Equalities Act Meetings were held with residents groups during Following this, initial proposals for Bower Ashton were developed in March These were made available online and letters were sent to local residents. Statutory consultations took place during June 2014 with local residents and organisations and the wider community. Step 3: Who might the proposal impact? Analysis of impacts on people with protected characteristics must be rigourous. Please demonstrate your analysis of any impacts in this section, referring to all of the equalities groups as defined in the Equality Act Does the proposal have any potentially adverse impacts on people with protected characteristics? Age Younger residents are more likely to live in family households. People living in households with two or three cars will pay relatively more for the second and third permits than for the first. As younger people are more likely to live in larger households, this is more likely to affect them. Older residents are more likely to require regular care visits; parking restrictions could potentially make this more difficult, which could have a negative impact. But it will be easier for their carers to find somewhere to park nearby due to the reduction in commuter parking in the area, which is a positive impact. There are likely to be positive impacts on older residents as it will be easier for people visiting them or picking them up and dropping them off at their house to park nearby. The scheme will also reduce traffic, making it easier and safer to walk around the area. This has been identified as a benefit in the reviews of our existing schemes. Disability Disabled people are more likely to require regular care visits; parking restrictions could potentially make this more difficult to arrange, which could have a negative impact on them. Disabled people are more likely to be reliant on a car when compared to people that do not share that protected characteristic. Disabled people with mental health conditions who would benefit from being able to

14 park in the same place each day are likely to benefit from the scheme as this will be a lot easier. Race, nationality, ethnic or national origin People that do not have English as a first language may find it more difficult to apply for a permit than people without this protected characteristic. Pregnancy & maternity Parking restrictions may make it more difficult for midwives and other healthcare providers to visit patients. Marriage and civil partnership It may be more difficult to obtain a parking permit if the applicant has changed their name, as the named keeper of the vehicle needs to match that of the resident. Religion and belief Parking restrictions around a place of worship could make it more difficult for people visiting or volunteering at churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship. However, there are currently no such establishments within the Bower Ashton RPS area. Transgender It may be more difficult for people with this protected characteristic to apply for a permit due to the need to provide documents that show that the vehicle that the permit is for is registered to the applicant. Sexual Orientation No impacts were identified. Gender No impacts were identified. 3.2 Can these impacts be mitigated or justified? If so, how? Age The proposals allow each household to apply for three permits. Each permit can carry two registration numbers, which means that permits can be obtained for six vehicles, provided no more than three use the permits at any one time. This mitigates against the possibility that the household would not be able to obtain sufficient permits for their vehicles. Residents with care needs can apply for an essential visitors permit to cater for the number of visits that they need. Registered healthcare providers will also be able to apply for a medical permit. There have been no reported incidents of people in the existing scheme areas being unable to arrange the visits that they need since the schemes have been introduced. The scheme will be monitored and reviewed after the first six months and annually after that to ensure that benefits are maximised. Disability RPS schemes in general replace existing advisory disabled bays with statutory bays that are enforceable. This improves access to them for disabled residents, which has

15 a positive impact on their quality of life. They also introduce new statutory bays for Blue Badge holders visiting local community facilities. There are currently no advisory disabled bays within the Bower Ashton RPS area. Should a need for statutory disabled bays arise in the future, this will be assessed and accommodated wherever possible. Residents with care needs can apply for a free essential visitors permit to cater for their needs. There have been no reported incidents of people in the existing scheme areas being unable to arrange the visits that they need since the schemes have been introduced. Race, nationality, ethnic or national origin Information about applying for permits will be written in plain English with translations produced where appropriate. Clear guidance on how to fill out the form and where to go to seek assistance will be provided. There will be an extended application timeframe to enable people to seek additional help should they need it. This will all be supported by a publicity campaign reminding people to apply. Pregnancy & maternity The new proposal introduces medical permits for registered healthcare providers with the intention of making it easier for them to park nearby. Parking will be free for 30 minutes in pay & display bays so that it will be possible to park for short visits in the area without having to pay. Marriage and civil partnership We will ensure that the application form provides for this by enabling people to confirm that their name has changed. Religion and belief There are no mosques, synagogues, temples or churches in the proposed scheme area that we are aware of. Transgender We will ensure that the application form provides for this by enabling people to confirm that their name has changed. We will carry out further consultation before the application form is finalised to establish whether any additional steps need to be taken. 3.3 Does the proposal create any benefits for people with protected characteristics? RPS schemes in general replace existing advisory disabled bay markings with statutory disabled bays that can be enforced, which means that Blue Badge holders living in RPS areas will find it easier to park close to their home, and will not fear losing their space to someone who is not entitled to use it. There are currently no advisory disabled bays within the Bower Ashton RPS area. Should a need for statutory disabled bays arise in the future, this will be assessed and accommodated wherever possible. The reduction in the number of vehicles parking in the area each day will make it easier for people with access or mobility issues to visit the area because it is more likely that they would be able to find a parking space close to their destination. Access to all properties will be improved, so people collecting or dropping off children or older relatives find this much easier than it was previously. Road safety is improved due to the reduction in traffic.

16 3.4 Can they be maximised? If so, how? We have maximised these benefits as much we can in developing these proposals. The scheme will be monitored during the first six months and we will be able to make changes after this time if there are any improvements we can make. Step 4: So what? The Equality Impact Assessment must be able to influence the proposal and decision. This section asks how your understanding of impacts on people with protected characteristics has influenced your proposal, and how the findings of your Equality Impact Assessment can be measured going forward. 4.1 How has the equality impact assessment informed or changed the proposal? Quarterly instalments are to be introduced, to make paying easier and more flexible. Originally RPS areas in the City had 15 minutes free parking available in Pay & Display bays. This has been changed so that all new RPS areas have 30 minutes free parking in Pay & Display bays to aid people accessing local amenities. 4.2 What actions have been identified going forward? Any new negative impacts on any of the equalities communities that are identified once the scheme is introduced will be considered with the aim of finding a solution. The scheme will be carefully monitored throughout the first six months of operation so that any further improvements that are identified can be made without delay. This assessment has informed us to look more closely at the application process with regard to transgender, marriage and civil partnership equalities communities. 4.3 How will the impact of your proposal and actions be measured moving forward? The Council is committed to reviewing the scheme after six months and then annually after that. Service Director Sign-Off: Date: Equalities Officer Sign Off: Date: