Eight-month delay in results of parking scheme trial sparks anger

Frome Neighbourhood Parking Group says they are ‘angry’ at being left in the dark by Somerset Council about the results of a public consultation into the Weymouth Road parking scheme trial. The group says that local residents and people who live in the rest of the town who answered the questionnaire have been dealt with in an “appalling” way. 

In 2022, new parking restrictions were introduced by Somerset Council on Weymouth Road, which borders Victoria Park, in a trial scheme to ease congestion and parking. However, a group of residents who live in neighbouring streets say that the scheme has resulted in displacement of traffic onto neighbouring roads and has left some residents now “fighting for parking spaces.” 

Resident parking permits and pay and display meters were installed as part of the 18-month trial that ended last year. Somerset Council’s parking manager, Steve Deakin, said that following the 18-month trial, the scheme would either end or be made permanent, but that a decision would be made within six months. 

At the end of the trial, a parking consultation was conducted by Somerset Council in September last year to gain people’s views on how the scheme went and support next steps. 

However, it has now been over eight months, and the local parking group say they have still not seen the results of the review or have been told whether the scheme will remain permanent or end. 

The group submitted a formal complaint to Somerset Council and said at the Frome Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday 15th May, that it has taken much ‘cajoling’ and the support of Somerset councillor Martin Dimery to get answers from the council, which has said the results will be shared within the next two weeks. 

Giving a presentation at Frome’s Annual Town Meeting, a member of the group, Bob Ashford said, “We think that is an appalling way to treat not just residents, tax payers as well, and all the people who bothered to respond to that survey. We are unhappy with the response to the complaint, and we will take this as far as it needs to go until this scheme is overturned. This erroneous, this unbalanced, this unfair scheme.” 

He added, “This is why we are so angry, [many residents] responded to that survey, but we have not had any kind of response whatsoever.” 

The Neighbourhood Parking Group say it is ‘wrong’ to put permits on one single road, especially one in which the vast majority of the residents already have off-road parking, and one that borders a public park.  

“A public road has essentially been privatised to the detriment of surrounding roads that do not have off-street parking,” says Bob Ashford. “A small group of individuals’ needs are being prioritised over those of the whole community.”  

The group also says that any issues on the road could have been dealt with through the implementation of a 20-mph speed limit and passing places with double yellow lines. 

“Instead, the result of the implementation of resident permits on Weymouth Road is that neighbouring Somerset Road has now become much more dangerous with parking along both sides. With only a pavement on one side, children are now being off-loaded onto the road.”  

The group also says that Castle Street, which has ‘insufficient parking’ for the residents living there, now has cars from neighbouring Catherine Street fighting for their spaces. “Amongst the Castle Street residents are several mums with small babies and children and elderly people who are now unable to park on their own street due to the influx of parking, making residents’ lives more difficult and dangerous,” says Bob Ashford. 

“This situation has now dragged on for so long that several people in the area have now given up and moved because of the lack of parking and its ensuing problems.” 

Cllr Martin Dimery said, “The dispute over parking permits has been long and protracted, with residents pitched in opposition against one another. This is regrettable. I have tried to find a practical compromise which I think will help, by suggesting a number of public parking spaces in Weymouth Road are created to help ease congestion elsewhere. I am hopeful of a positive response from the parking department at Somerset.” 

Frome Times approached Somerset Council for a statement about the results of the consultation and the authority has yet to respond. 

Pictured: Members of the Neighbourhood Parking Group at the bottom of Weymouth Road