**IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO SAY NO**
No decision has been taken on whether to proceed with any sort of Residents' Parking Zone (RPZ) in Bristol. Bristol City Council is consulting residents and businesses in two areas but no decision has been taken.
Once the current consultation has closed, proposals will be drawn up for these two areas. Residents will then be further consulted and asked whether or not they want to accept them. Only if there is majority support will any scheme go ahead. You can still say NO.
**RESIDENTS' PARKING ZONE (RPZ) CONSULTATION - APRIL 2009**
Bristol City Council issued, on 6 April 2009, new consultation documents on Residents' Parking to residents and businesses in parts of Clifton, Cliftonwood, Cotham and Kingsdown. The Council has called the two areas being consulted 'Cliftonwood' and 'Kingsdown'
Both the 'Cliftonwood' and 'Kingsdown' titles are misleading. The 'Cliftonwood' area stretches to the Students' Union and almost to the Victoria Rooms. The 'Kingsdown' area includes part of Cotham. To add to the confusion the 'Cliftonwood' area was earlier referred to as 'Brandon Hill'.
You can view maps of the areas on the Council's website at www.bristol.gov.uk/respark If you live, or have a business, in one of these areas you should receive consultation documents.
We have expressed concern that, again, this consultation has been undertaken during the universities' holidays (albeit only partly this time). It seems entirely wrong to us, even more especially this time because the two areas are well known as home to a great many university students and staff, to commence a consultation on a major issue in the middle of the Easter vacation when many will be away.
We are further concerned that the documents start off by saying that 'a residents' parking scheme is planned for your neighbourhood.' In fact, the Council is only consulting on the possibility of some sort of scheme - a residents' parking scheme is not planned for any neighbourhood and you can still say NO.
Also, as if to prove the point that if the Council gets a toe-hold in charging people to park they would rapidly look to expand into other areas of the city, the 'Cliftonwood' consultation area has been enlarged and the 'Kingsdown' one has more than doubled in size from the one being considered just a few months ago. This is 'because there is a growing indication that many residents immediately ouside (the original area) may be supportive of managed parking for their own streets.' Eh?
Please see our 'Read the arguments' page and, if you agree with us, we suggest returning your questionnaire with the words 'NO RPZ HERE PLEASE' added. You can also write to your local councillors; visit www.bristol.gov.uk or call 922 2000 for contact details.
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