A CALL to mark out parking bays in public car parks in a town has been rejected as it could reduce the number of available spaces.
The councillor responsible for car parks said marking out spaces would mean the car parks in Blaenavon would have to comply with national standards.
Councillor Mandy Owen said if the car parks were relined, as requested by Blaenavon independent councillor Nick Horler, “they would be required to comply with national parking design standards and that would reduce the total number of spaces available as they have to be a certain width.”
She said as the car parks aren’t currently marked it allows for more vehicles to be parked and said markings would also works vans and small commercial vehicles, owned by residents, couldn’t park in them which could create further demand for on street parking.
No traffic regulation orders
There are also no traffic regulation orders in the car parks, meaning there is no legal enforcement powers so vehicles could be parked outside the lines, or across two bays, without any action being taken.
The Labour cabinet member said as Torfaen Borough Council doesn’t charge for parking there is no income for maintenance, resurfacing or enforcement.
She told Cllr Horler: “I’m really sorry it’s a negative response but I think it could encourage more problems going forward.”
The Blaenavon councillor had raised the issue at the council’s January meeting and said before Christmas he was contacted by a resident who was fined for parking on double yellow lines, having arrived home late from work unable to find a parking space and said the parking spaces hadn’t been maintained.
Cllr Owen, who represents Greenmeadow in Cwmbran, said councillors are aware drivers have to park safely and anyone issued with a penalty charge notice can appeal it, including to the independent tribunal.
Cllr Horler, in response, questioned if the council should “revisit” residents’ parking permits and suggested two unnamed sites owned by the council, he said, could be used for parking,
The cabinet member said they could have discussions “outside this meeting” but said the council was waiting for guidance from the Welsh Government on residents parking.