10 Feb 2023
A long-awaited strategy aimed at providing an eco-friendly vision for motorists across St Albans has been announced by the district council – but does it go far enough?
SADC developed the scheme following “intensive consultation” with residents, businesses, community groups and other organisations.
It aims to make the best use of parking spaces in the district while also addressing four over-arching aims: tackling climate change, improving accessibility, making the best use of digital technology and ensuring efficient enforcement.
The headline announcements from the strategy include measures to deter motorists from engine idling, a tighter emissions-based parking permits price structure and the promotion of car clubs.
Parents who park outside schools will be targeted for enforcement, and hotspot areas for illegal parking will be identified.
A review of disabled parking spaces will be taking place to ensure there are the sufficient number in appropriate locations, and Blue Badge fraud will be tackled in partnership with Herts county council.
Paper-free virtual parking permits may be introduced and pay-and-display machines phased out and replaced by cashless parking. Auto number plate recognition (ANPR) technology will also be developed to enforce parking restrictions.
The strategy was approved at the recent meeting of SADC’s public realm committee, and chair Cllr Helen Campbell said: ““The strategy aims to meet the needs of all our residents including those with mobility issues. It also supports the local economy and tackles the climate emergency.
“Crucially, the strategy is underpinned by a series of projects that we will undertake to ensure that we deliver the main objectives. These range from introducing cashless parking to reviewing the provision of disabled parking spaces.”
The next phase of the council’s emissions-based charging strategy for parking permits comes into play in April, and could include a surcharge for diesel vehicles which do not meet the Euro 6 emissions standards – a legal requirement for car manufacturers to average CO2 emissions below 98g/km, particularly focused on restricting diesel NOx emissions.
Following the public consultation, which found most recipients were not in favour of discounts for owners of electric vehicles, the current fees structure will be reviewed.
In order to tackle congestion caused by parents parking outside schools at drop-off and pick-up, schemes could be introduced at the most extreme locations which would prevent unauthorised vehicles from entering roads around these schools at specific times of the day during term times.
The aim of this approach is to discourage parents from using their cars to drop-off children in the immediate area, while allowing continued access to residents, vulnerable road users such as disabled badge holders, delivery vehicles, and utility companies.
Parking charges across the district will be set at levels that encourage motorists to consider travelling by more sustainable means such as walking, cycling and public transport, while at the same time not prejudicing those who do choose to use their vehicle by being too high.
In April 2022 legislation was passed that allows local authorities outside of London to enforce against moving traffic offences, such as banned turns or one-way streets, through the use of CCTV cameras, and SADC is currently waiting to hear whether it can take over this responsibility from HCC.
See this week’s St Albans Times for reactions to the strategy.
