New parking zone in Portsmouth to be introduced

MORE motorists in Portsmouth will have to pay to park outside their homes with the introduction of a new parking zone.
Festing Grove. Picture: Google MapsFesting Grove. Picture: Google Maps
Festing Grove. Picture: Google Maps

During a virtual meeting the city council's traffic and transport boss, Councillor Lynne Stagg, approved plans for the MG parking zone in Southsea.

The zone will centre around Festing Grove and will be bordered by Highland Road, Cromwell Road and Eastern Parade. Only permit holders will be able to park within the zone between 12pm and 1pm, and 6pm and 7pm every day.

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The MG parking zone was approved for SouthseaThe MG parking zone was approved for Southsea
The MG parking zone was approved for Southsea
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It comes after a survey held in the area earlier this year found 59 per cent of respondents were in favour of the zone, with 39 per cent against.

Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Matthew Winnington, said: ‘There’s a clear majority in favour of the MG zone coming in. I would also draw the councillors’ attention to the fact that quite a few of the objections or those who were unclear were not against a parking zone coming in - it was the timing.

‘If you decide to go ahead you can put in the six-month review to ensure people have their say about if the times are right for that area and if the zone is working as it should be.’

However, Tory members had concerns about the proposals.

Cllr Luke Stubbs said: 'You've got to consider the doctors’ surgery on the north side of Highland Road.

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‘I know you're not making a decision on that today but when you come to that some consideration needs to be given to parking for visitors to doctors surgeries. If you're saying no one can park for two hours how can elderly or ill people get to surgeries.’

Opposition spokesman for transport, Cllr Simon Bosher, added: ‘If we’re going to hold a six-month review for every zone some people are going to be waiting the best part of a generation to get their views actually taken into consideration.’

It was agreed that reviews of zones would only be held after six months if residents raised issues.

Currently permits for a household’s first car is £30 a year. Second and third vehicles are £120 and £300 respectively.

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