Anger as council looks to change parking on roads

The city council is looking to introduce changes to its on-street parking in 54 roads, including the well-used spaces in Elm Grove and Clarence Esplanade in Southsea and High Street, Old Portsmouth.

The motion would change the operating hours that people can park on the roads with no restrictions.

Parking restrictions are currently in place from 8am until 6pm.

But if the proposal is accepted, the hours would change to 8am until 9pm.

Lynn Reed, landlady of The White Horse pub, in Southsea Terrace, Southsea, one of the streets affected, said: ‘It’s disgusting.

‘The council has already taken away Western Parade’s three hours of free parking.

‘We’re within a residential parking area, but that’s not the point.

‘A lot of people come down and if they then have to pay, they’ll turn around and go somewhere else.

‘So it’s terrible. The council makes far too much money anyway and over-inflates the parking prices.

‘It already costs a fortune to park.

‘Why should the council take it through to 9pm? People would have already eaten and gone by then.’

Also concerned about the changes was Sarah Collus, who runs Rosie’s Vineyard, in Elm Grove.

She said: ‘It is concerning as it will affect our businesses.

‘There are no dedicated car parks around here so people are forced to park on the street and further restrictions could put off diners, who most likely want to eat at 7pm.’

Councillors are due to make a decision on the Traffic Regulation Order at a meeting on November 24.

Tory traffic boss, Cllr Jim Fleming, said: ‘It’s not being proposed to fill any revenue gap.

‘It’s part of a wider strategy in getting better use of the limited parking that is available in the city.’

A handful of roads, such as Clarence Street and Stubbington Avenue in North End, will see their restrictions move from 10pm to an hour earlier.

For more on the order search ‘TRO 58/2016’ at portsmouth.gov.uk