New restrictions planned to stop 'workers and shoppers' parking in city street for free

NEW restrictions are planned for several streets in Cambridge to stop 'workers and shoppers' from parking there for free.

- By HANNAH BROWN Local democracy reporter

Councillors shared support for the proposed York Street area residential parking scheme, which will introduce restrictions so that only residents with permits can park in the area between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

A report published by Cambridgeshire County Council said there have been "longstanding concerns" about parking pressures in the area and some people have been "struggling to find on-street parking close to home".

Councillors had been asked to approve a parking scheme earlier this year, but a decision was delayed to give officers time to address concerns.

Some changes were made to the proposed changes, including reducing hours of operation to match those of the bordering Petersfield scheme, and cutting plans for double yellow lines in Fairsford Place.

Councillors from the county council and Cambridge City Council met last Wednesday (December 10) to consider the proposed parking scheme.

Some people living in the area urged councillors to support the changes, telling the meeting that something needed to be done to address problematic parking.

Martin Lucas-Smith said the scheme was "long overdue", claiming that parking in the area had been "intolerably bad for decades".

He said parking spaces in the streets fill up early each morning by commuters coming into the city.

Mr Lucas-Smith said it was also "unacceptable" that fire engines could not get down a street in what is a "dense area of housing".

Another supporter of the plans said they had always found it "problematic" to park outside their home, as they said "shoppers and workers" used the streets as free parking.

Others argued that the proposed scheme should not be introduced.