Important update

A Council Meeting was held Today (17th November) which Philip and I were asked to attend. The meeting was attended by Council members and Officers of Wellingborough and Northamptonshire County Council.

The recommendations and information from Wellingborough Council on proposed residents parking schemes have gone to Northamptonshire County Council. Consultants from the County have gone and surveyed the area and have found a number of problems which mean that the original proposals for residents parking cannot go ahead.

One issue is the physical nature of Colwell and Chase Road. They are not wide enough for residents parking bays to be installed. Currently residents park on the paths, if residents parking bays were to be installed residents would be fined for parking on the path. If this scheme were to go ahead there would only be enough residents parking bays for one side of these streets.

Two “compromise” solutions were put forward base on the last proposed area (including Midland, Chase, Chester (one side only), Colwell, Talbot, and Senwick Roads :

1.A single yellow line to be put down on all streets that were in the last proposal. One hour restriction times to be used and to be timed differently for each side. For example one side of Colwell Road would be no parking between 11:00 and 12:00 the other side 13:00 to 14:00 hours. This would mean that residents would have to physically move their cars to the opposite side of the road if they were to avoid having a “ticket”. If you were away and have to leave your car parked in these roads it would be at risk (even if you were a resident) of having a “ticket”.

2.Preferred option. A zoned parking scheme to be introduced. Signage would be put up at the entrance to the residents parking zone (four locations). The zone would be restricted in hours, for example between 08:00 and 10:00 Monday to Saturday. Residents would need to purchase a permit (or a scratch card), per car per household with a free visitor pass. Costs would be in the region of £45 per permit. Option 2 needs to go through the Department for Transport (DfT) for consideration and costing.

Philip and I stated that option 2 would be our (CARSAGs) option. It is up to CARSAG members to think about this so we can discuss the above options at our next meeting on December 3rd.

Because Option 2 was not in the original plan it will need to go to the Development Meeting Committee only after costs were gathered. This will probably be March to April next year. Philip asked if information could be produced by Wellingborough Council on these proposals so that we (CARSAG) could disseminate the information and let residents know why there were delays. A press release will be produced.

Because Option 2 was not in the original plan it will need to go to Consultation. It was suggested that Open Days/ Question and Answer Meetings could be held in the Victoria Centre over a period of 3 days.

Philip and I also spoke to Councillor Jay Walia. He was invited to the meeting on the 3rd December. I believe he said that he would be able to attend.

Kevin Jones
CARSAG

Meeting cancelled

Please note due to members not being able to attend (I being one of them) the CARSAG meeting to be held on Wednesday 18th November (Tomorrow) has been cancelled.

The CARSAG meeting has been rescheduled for the 3rd December 09. Apologies for those who had made plans. Could you let those not on e-mail know...

Kevin Jones
CARSAG

collective pat on the back

Well done everyone… a collective pat on the back… we won this part of the residents parking by 14 to 7 (I think) so now it is on to the next battle!!!

Watch out for articles in the ET and Herald

Pass this on to anyone who is interested

Regards,
Kevin Jones CARSAG

The votes are in

For a detailed analysis follow the link

http://www.wellingborough.gov.uk/downloads/Agenda_Item_5_-_On_Street_Parking_Report_and_Appendices.pdf


Not good news....

CARSAG

CARSAG minutes May 09

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 21st May 2009

Present : Kevin Jones ( Chair ), Anna Hickman, Allan Blackman, Tony
Jackson, Philip Douglas, Leslie Prior
Councillor Maureen Shram, Councillor Paul Crofts

Apologies : Dora Spencer, Terry Spencer, Councillor Shashi Dholakia,
Lidia Douglas ( arrived late )


Residents’ Parking : This was the main reason for the meeting.

Update : a straw poll of Colwell and Chester had shown the majority in favour. Senwick Road had shown a mixed response.
Kevin had spoken to The Evening Telegraph and had mentioned the concerns re the wrong forms, empty houses and non- English speakers.
The ET will be running another article.
Allan and Shashi had leafleted Ranelagh and Leyland Roads.
Kevin had contacted Paul Thompson but had not had any response.

Action : Kevin to invite Paul Thompson to follow up the results.

Action : Gill is going to prepare a reminder leaflet which will go on the blog. She
Is going to post them in Midland Road, Allan will photocopy and do Elsden Road, Tony will cover Senwick.

Irthlingborough Road : plans for a mini-roundabout were circulated at the
Junction. There was general support for the idea from the committee.

Action : Councillor Shram to write back to the County Council and approve.

Any other business : The committee was informed that the replacement for
Tom Callaghan at the County Council is Keith Day. The senior manager
For Keith Day is Brain Wooding.

Date of next meeting : Thursday 2nd July.

Permit Parking - Have you returned your completed consultation paper?

The deadline is Wednesday 27th May before this has to be returned to Wellingborough Council.

Don’t forget, even if you do not wish to purchase a permit, (or have no need ie you may have a drive, private parking) – you can still vote For the scheme if you believe it is a good idea.

The idea is to stop commuters using our very valuable space outside our homes as free car parks.

If you haven’t already returned your form, please do so before the deadline.

Thanking you in advance.

Kevin
CARSAG

keep the comments comming

Hello badpeg/ Martin/ Palk Road Resident/ Dave/ Martin/ Getridofcommuters et al

It's good to see so many comments... As you know I am all for the residents parking. I am willing to pay that little bit extra so that I can park somewhere near my house and not be "done" by the parking wardens. I believe I'm doing this for the benefit of the local residents. This is my opinion you are all entitled to your own. I don't appologise for this. I do appologise for not responding sooner. To put it bluntly I was organising my Nans funeral. However I am back now. I haven't given up on this!! I am just off to go to another meeting regarding this.

Keep the comments coming good or bad :-)

Kevin
CARSAG...

Vote in our unofficial poll

Vote in our unofficial poll Yes/ No/ or Not Bothered

less than 50p a week

VOTE YES TO RESIDENTS PARKING

Consultation

the consultation on the parking proposals should commence on April 20th, after the school holiday and the consultation period will last for six weeks finishing on 29th May.

Ensure you vote yes to residents parking

CARSAG

We need you!

We have managed to convince the council that we need residents parking. You will be receiving a letter from the council asking you to agree with the proposal. We need over 50% in each street to agree to this. If you don’t fill the form in it will be counted as a no.

SAY YES TO RESIDENTS PARKING.

Castle Area Road Safety Action Group – Interested in helping then contact us

Next CARSAG meeting 5th March at 7.30 at 189 Midland Road

Dear CARSAG members

Just a reminder that the next CARSAG meeting is on Thursday

Please find attached minutes from the last meeting:

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 13th January 2009

Present : Kevin Jones ( Chair ), Jean Vail, Tony Jackson, Kim Mitchell,
Philip Douglas, Allan Blackman, Lidia Douglas
Councillors Shashi Dholaki and Maureen Shram

Apologies : Anna Hickman, Councillor Paul Croft, Michael Prior

Residents Parking : there was a brief report on the Council’s Development Planning meeting and the overturning of their original decision to postpone consultation for residents parking. There was debate about dates for consultation. Maureen produced a possible timescale which placed consultation in either April or May. Discussion then followed about action and information.
There was concern that the forms would not be numbered and that people might not reply. There would need to be an initial flyer sent (Michael Prior had sent a sample leaflet )
The ideal would be to have a number of people to canvass filling in the consultation form.

Agreed :

• Lidia to e-mail Paul Thompson for documents relating to the consultation
• Kevin to contact Malcolm Ward to find out about regulations
• Kevin to do small initial flyer (showed template) and to print them. They would be circulated as soon as possible when the council letters are issued. It was decided we would need at least 800 copies.
• Allan to do longer flyer to go out at time of consultation. These would be printed by a few people to share the cost.
• To contact people from the AGM and see whether they would help

Possible division of roads for flyer distribution –
Tony : Senwick Drive/Senwick Road
Kevin : Colwell, Chase, Chester
Gill : Midland
Allan : Mill, Newcomen, Palk, Ranelagh
Philip and Lidia : Melton. Whitworth, Compton, St Mary’s Paddock, Talbot
Maureen : Winstanley, Vivian
Dora??
Irthlingborough Road : Kevin had contacted a Steve Barber. The committee was informed that there would not be signals at the crossing but two puffin style crossings would be in place in early summer - one at Irthlingborough Road and one at Senwick Road.

Action : Allan to e-mail Tom Callaghan and Steve Barber to voice concern.
Any members who wished to add their comments could also send to s.barber@northamptonshire.gov.uk or/and tom Callaghan. These comments could also refer to Midland Road junction.

Philip reported on talk by James Wilson and suggested contacting other action groups in the town so that there would be a stronger voice.

Housing Developments : Nothing happening at the moment to Saxby’s or on the Station Road/185 Midland Road sites. Kim has been keeping an eye on notifications.

Any Other Business :

• Send regards to Michael Prior who was in hospital
• Kevin urged other members to send articles in to ET
• Carsag must inform ET when the consultation period begins
• Kevin is updating Blog all the time : http://carsag.blogspot.com/
• Shashi urged everyone to keep the pressure up

Date of Next Meeting : THURSDAY 5th MARCH at 7.30 at 189 Midland Road.

This would be an important meeting as the Council meeting would have taken place on the 3rd and the go-ahead given for consultation

...................

Regards,
Kevin Jones
CARSAG

'Danger junction' needs to be safer

Evening Telegraph 5th February

"Residents are calling for lights to be installed at a "dangerous" junction instead of just a pedestrian crossing"

"New housing development means you can't get a clear view when pulling out of Irthlingborough Road"

This issue was due to be resolved in April 09 however plans have changed.

CARSAG

CARSAG needs YOU!

We have managed to convince the council that we need residents parking. You will be receiving a letter from the council asking you to agree with the proposal. We need over 50% in each street to agree to this. If you don’t fill the form in it will be counted as a no.

SAY YES TO RESIDENTS PARKING.

Castle Area Road Safety Action Group – Interested in helping then contact us

Are Permits the Answer?

Published in the Herald and Post Thursday 29th January 09

"Struggling to park in your own street could be a thing of the past for people living near Wellingborough Train Station.

Wellingborough Borough Council agreed on Tuesday, January 27, to go ahead with public consutlation to guage opinion on parking permits."

CARSAG

Residents to have say on Wellingborough parking plan

Published in the ET on the 28th January 2009

A solution is in sight for residents affected by severe parking problems near to a station.
Wellingborough Council last night promised to hold a public survey to gauge support for a £53,500 parking permit scheme in streets around the town's station.

Now the decision is in the hands of the residents and if more than half the households in the area support the scheme it will go ahead.

Part of the survey will cover streets in the Castle Ward area, while a separate scheme, which would need approval from 50 per cent of residents in affected streets, would cover people in Alma Street, Cannon Street, Great Park Street, Park Road and Herriots Lane.

The survey will be paid for in part by a donation of £1,500 from East Midlands Trains.

If the permit scheme goes ahead residents in affected streets could pay £25 for a parking permit in the first year.

This is expected to rise in subsequent years. Castle Ward councillors, who had pressed for people to have their say over the scheme, welcomed the decision but said there had been an unnecessary delay when the council's development committee initially refused to consider the proposals.

Cllr Paul Crofts said: "We welcome the fact that the process is back on course and people will now be having a say on whether this scheme is used in their area.

"However, I think this really should have been done months ago."
Cllr Shashi Dholaki joined him in criticising the delay, while praising the work of people in pressing for their voices to be heard.

He said: "This scheme was put on hold for 12 months by the committee but we succeeded in getting in looked at again.

"I think groups such as the Castle Area Road Safety Action Group (CARSAG) have really worked hard.

"It is down to their hard work that we have this issue back on track."
The action group has campaigned strongly for a solution to the parking problems near to the station, which it said was making life unpleasant, difficult and unsafe for residents. If approved, the new scheme could be in place by the end of August.

CARSAG

Let's Talk

Residents to get their say on parking permits

"Frustated residents will finally be able to have their say on whether parking permits should be introduced in their streets"

Wellingborough Council development committee has given the go ahead to consultation for residents parking

Herald & Post
Thursday 15th January 09

Minutes to meeting held 13th Jan 09

CARSAG

Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 13th January 2009

Present : Kevin Jones ( Chair ), Jean Vail, Tony Jackson, Kim Mitchell,
Philip Douglas, Allan Blackman, Lidia Douglas
Councillors Shashi Dholaki and Maureen Shram

Apologies : Anna Hickman, Councillor Paul Croft, Michael Prior

Residents Parking : there was a brief report on the Council’s Development Planning meeting and the overturning of their original decision to postpone consultation for residents parking. There was debate about dates for consultation. Maureen produced a possible timescale which placed consultation in either April or May. Discussion then followed about action and information.
There was concern that the forms would not be numbered and that people might not reply. There would need to be an initial flyer sent (Michael Prior had sent a sample leaflet )
The ideal would be to have a number of people to canvass filling in the consultation form.

Agreed :

• Lidia to e-mail Paul Thompson for documents relating to the consultation
• Kevin to contact Malcolm Ward to find out about regulations
• Kevin to do small initial flyer (showed template) and to print them. They would be circulated as soon as possible when the council letters are issued. It was decided we would need at least 800 copies.
• Allan to do longer flyer to go out at time of consultation. These would be printed by a few people to share the cost.
• To contact people from the AGM and see whether they would help

Possible division of roads for flyer distribution –
Tony : Senwick Drive/Senwick Road
Kevin : Colwell, Chase, Chester
Gill : Midland
Allan : Mill, Newcomen, Palk, Ranelagh
Philip and Lidia : Melton. Whitworth, Compton, St Mary’s Paddock, Talbot
Maureen : Winstanley, Vivian
Dora??
Irthlingborough Road : Kevin had contacted a Steve Barber. The committee was informed that there would not be signals at the crossing but two puffin style crossings would be in place in early summer - one at Irthlingborough Road and one at Senwick Road.

Action : Allan to e-mail Tom Callaghan and Steve Barber to voice concern.
Any members who wished to add their comments could also send to s.barber@northamptonshire.gov.uk or/and tom Callaghan. These comments could also refer to Midland Road junction.

Philip reported on talk by James Wilson and suggested contacting other action groups in the town so that there would be a stronger voice.

Housing Developments : Nothing happening at the moment to Saxby’s or on the Station Road/185 Midland Road sites. Kim has been keeping an eye on notifications.

Any Other Business :

• Send regards to Michael Prior who was in hospital
• Kevin urged other members to send articles in to ET
• Carsag must inform ET when the consultation period begins
• Kevin is updating Blog all the time : http://carsag.blogspot.com/
• Shashi urged everyone to keep the pressure up

Date of Next Meeting : THURSDAY 5th MARCH at 7.30 at 189 Midland Road.

This would be an important meeting as the Council meeting would have taken place on the 3rd and the go-ahead given for consultation

CARSAG Meeting

CARSAG will be meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13th Jan 09 at Midland Road

Irthlingborough Rd Junction

Plans for traffic lights on the junction of Irthlingborough and Senwick Roads will not be going ahead. There has been a change of plan. Puffin style crossings will now be installed on Senwick Road hill and Irthlingborough Road town side

We will try to keep you informed

CARSAG

ET - Station parking stops bin collection

The evening telegraph published an article on the issue of bins being left due to waste collection vehicles not being able to get past commuter cars.

Kevin Jones
CARSAG

ET Permit Parking Plan could heal parking rift

The evening telegraph published an article on residents parking Friday 9th January 09. The roads under consideration were published.

"The first battle has been won but the war is still to be wone. We have been given an opportunity which is fantastic. I would be furious if we did not step up to the plate"

Kevin Jones
CARSAG

CARSAG overturn decision

CARSAG representatives spoke at the development committee the result is that local residents will be consulted about residents parking

Kevin Jones
CARSAG