News / Politics
Petition calling on mayor to cancel RPZs
A petition calling for the “cancellation” of all residents’ parking zones (RPZs) has reached over 3,500 signatures, forcing another debate at City Hall.
The spread of controlled parking areas has been a flagship policy of George Ferguson who says they are crucial to tackling congestion.
But protests have continued in the last three years since the first zones began to be rolled out.
The latest petition, set up by Edward Bowditch, reaches its milestone as Green Party councillors call on the mayor to extend RPZs in South Bristol.
The petition calls for the project to be reversed on the grounds that it has meant job losses, with business closing because of a drop in passing trade.
“Cherished areas of Bristol such as Clifton are suffering with some traders reporting business down by 50 per cent,” Bowditch said.
“All schemes should be immediately revoked to provide relief, rolled back and at the very least redesigned with proper consultation performed with residents, businesses, and the universities.”
But Green Party councillors in Southville are calling an investigation into extending their RPZ into Ashton.
Southville’s Green councillor Charlie Bolton said: “We don’t pretend that all the people surveyed like residents parking. Indeed, a number of those surveyed said they would prefer that the whole thing was taken out.
“That said, there is a significant demand for action, and residents parking seems to be the only game in town”.
Ferguson was not available to respond, but the council said: “The council currently has no plans to extend the current programme. If residents living outside the current areas think they might benefit from residents’ parking, they can give their views by emailing [email protected].”
A previous petition calling on the mayor to scrap his RPZ policy forced a debate in City Hall in March 2015.
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