These new parking zones will be rolled out in Portsmouth

During a traffic and transportation meeting this week it was agreed the new MH and MI zones in Southsea will be implemented.

The MH zone will be bordered by Highland Road, Winter Road, Devonshire Avenue and Eastney Road and will operate from 6pm to 8pm.

And the MI zone will be bordered by Devonshire Avenue, Winter Road, Goldsmith Avenue and Eastney Road and will run from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Under the schemes residents of Devonshire Avenue will be able to park on either side of the road using either parking permit.

A deputation from resident Sian McCune, who lives in the MH zone, in favour of the scheme was heard at the meeting. She said: 'My husband and I moved here in July 2019 and I have struggled with the parking situation ever since.

'If I don't get home by 4pm I can't find a space in the road and if I get home after 5pm I spend ages driving around the area trying to find a space.'

Approval for the zones was given due to the results of formal surveys carried out this year. In the MH area 111 people responded in support, with 45 against and 15 unclear.

During the formal survey of the MI area 47 residents were in support, 46 people objected and nine were unclear.

However, the Conservative spokesman for transport, Cllr Simon Bosher, had concerns that not enough people had responded.

He added: 'I have some general concerns that I have with all these (zones) because of the fact it has come in quite piecemeal.'

Other concerns that the 6pm to 8pm timing of the MH zone was not best suited to the area were raised.

The council's traffic and transport boss, Cllr Lynne Stagg said: 'These can all be reviewed. If people are having particular problems they can be reviewed.'

Nikki Musson, the council's senior transport planner, added: 'I think it's right to say we can't design a scheme everyone's going to be happy with.'

Parking permits for a household's first car cost £30 for the year. A second permit is £120 and a third is £300.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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