Could permit scheme help local residents?

Residents in some areas near Londonderry’s city centre say they are becoming increasingly frustrated by commuters parking outside their homes.

People living in the Glen, Rosemount, Duncreggan and Marlborough areas believe parking permits could help address the problem.

One woman told BBC News NI she was afraid to leave her home because of the challenge of finding a space when she returns.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has urged people to “park legally and safely, and to be considerate of residents”.

The Department for Infrastructure said it had received requests for additional residents parking schemes which will be considered in line with the recommendations contained in the Residents Parking Report.

Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today, Elisabeth, who asked for only her first name to be used, said she has owned her home on Marlborough Terrace for more than 20 years.

Parking has always been an issue but in recent years it has become much more frustrating.

“If I leave the house often I come back and my parking is gone. It’s a case now that I fear leaving, because when I come back I am going to struggle to park near my house,” she said.

She said that when she goes to work, her parking space is taken by people who are coming into town for different reasons, like working or shopping.

She would like to see more traffic wardens in the area, and a residents’ parking permit scheme introduced.

“People are tired and fed up, some people are putting out cones. It is not only this area of the town, I believe it is an all over problem but because this area is so central to the city, it is a free-for-all.”

At present, Stormont’s Department for Infrastructure operates only one parking permit scheme in Northern Ireland at that is in the Rugby Road/College Avenue area of Belfast.

A spokesperson told BBC Radio Foyle their review of residents’ parking is due to be published soon.

“The department has received requests for additional residents’ parking schemes and these will be considered in line with the recommendations contained in the residents’ parking report.”

People Before Profit councillor Shaun Harkin said the issue was widespread across many residential areas near the city centre and near the Ulster University (UU) campus in Derry.

Parking close to UU has caused concern for residents for some time.

“Residents are getting increasingly frustrated, it’s an issue that has to be addressed,” Harkin said.

“Permits are part of the solution, and I think they should be free…but there is a lot to work out about how you do residential parking.”

Ursula Walsh runs a bed and breakfast in the city centre near the Ulster University campus on Northland Road.

She believes the answer is more multi-storey car parks.

“The parking in the city centre is an absolute disgrace,” she said.

“The answer is multi-storey car parks. So, take the car park in William Street, near St Eugene’s cathedral.

“If you were to make that multi-storey, you would increase capacity four or five-fold.

“And if you were to replicate that across the city, you would increase the number of car parking spaces massively.”

Adrian Kelly, from the Glen Development Initiative, said there was mounting frustration there, too, over parking and many people were asking about a permit scheme.

“We hear the term wacky races, with people going out of their spaces in the morning and then trying to get back at lunchtime or later in the evening,” he said.

“But we are waiting on the minister to evaluate the scheme at Rugby Road to see the impact on residential parking. It is probably one part of the solution but it is not the complete answer.”

Meanwhile PSNI Insp Michael Gahan urged drivers to be “considerate of residents” when parking and not to park on pavements.

“We understand people want to park where it’s convenient for them but, as with all parking, this must be done in a safe and legal way.”

A Department for Infrastructure spokesman said the the review of residents’ parking schemes is now complete.

“The Minister has had the opportunity to consider the draft Residents Parking Review report and plans to issue the final review report soon,” he said.

“There is currently only one residents’ parking scheme (pilot) operating in the Rugby Road/College Avenue area of Belfast. The Department has received requests for additional residents parking schemes and these will be considered in line with the recommendations contained in the Residents Parking Report,” he added.

Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) has asked commuters to consider using council-owned car parks.

“The council would also encourage people to be respectful of residents when parking on public roads and streets in residential areas,” a DCSDC spokeswoman added.