MenuNotes of a meeting with Highways Officers held at 15.00 on 4th December 2012 in the Town Council Office following a briefing session between Amble Town Council and the Business Club.
1. PRESENT: Councillors Weir, Arckless, Bilboe, Mrs Lewis, Rev’d Nicholson, with the Clerk, Miss Brown.
Representing the Business Club Mr Moyes, Mrs Aston and Mrs Burke
Northumberland County Council Highways Officers Jim Long and Paul McKenna
Apologies: Cllrs Dargue, Morrison, Palin
Since the commencement of Civic parking enforcement, there has been a severe detrimental effect on the businesses in Amble who have been suffering already due to the current local economic situation. Retailers and Service Providers are in a desperate state. One trader commented that there had been a £3000 loss in sales in the past month, which was putting both the business and its employees at risk; this would be true of many businesses as, after the tourist trade from Easter to September, they rely on customers in the next busy period up to Christmas. The lack of application of common sense reasoning regarding traffic management and discriminatory enforcement of regulations was driving customers away and having adverse effects on tourism and the townspeople’s well-being as it was almost impossible for them to use the retail businesses but also to access services such as the dentist, hairdresser, masseurs etc.
The remit for Enforcement Officers was queried as they had been in the town almost every day but only for about 20 minutes at any one time- was this the case for every other town? Highways Officers could not comment.
The whole town was extremely concerned and angry about the situation as was shown by the petition submitted by Mrs Burke- signed by over 3000 people in a very short time period.
Amble is in a unique position compared to Berwick, Alnwick or Morpeth in that it does not have substantially large car parks so it is almost impossible to redirect anyone to park elsewhere if wanting access to Queen Street. The NCC Parking Strategy claimed over 200 spaces available in Amble but this was in an area from the A1068 Warkworth road to Hauxley Links and does not accurately reflect that within the immediate shopping area. With the imminent closing of the Coquet Street car park for resurfacing, there was great concern over the lack of parking facilities in the retail area of the town, the only NCC car park being the TIC (15 spaces). The situation was now compounded by the Northumbria Water works in adjacent streets which meant residents could not park there.
Parking provision included under non domestic rates was queried. The Highways Officers were not able to advise on this.
It was stressed that at an earlier meeting in August when all were informed no consultation on changes to traffic regulations could take place until April 2013, no-one had suggested temporary measures could be requested to alleviate the situation. It was strongly highlighted that NCC were failing in meeting their objections laid out in the Northumberland Parking Strategy re: innovative, individual solutions to local problems; car parking supporting retail and tourism; promoting citizens’ health and well-being etc.
Those present requested:
- temporary immediate suspension of loading bays, which had not been required for some years due to the changing national retail capacity, so they could be used as additional parking facilities on Queen Street. The single yellow lines could be used for disabled parking of up to 3 hours and also loading and unloading.
- Church Street Monday to Saturday restrictions only
- Temporary immediate removal of restrictions on High Street prior to the already agreed works there.
The Highways Officers would take all concerns regarding the devasting effect on the town’s viability back to NCC stressing everyone’s concerns for the future of the town’s retail and service offering.
They informed that due to legal requirements it would take 4-6 weeks for a traffic regulation order to be approved. It was requested that they forcibly express the concerns to the Chief Executive and request an immediate removal of the loading bay restrictions pending the temporary orders as the town must have some help urgently or there will be little left to help.
They were also requested to emphasise to the relevant department that the regulations regarding time restrictions on the parking bays on Queen Street should be enforced to encourage traffic movement and therefore better trading circumstances.
Amble Town Council would write to all the relevant departments stressing the concerns and emphasising the need for immediate action.
Future suggestions for long term measures included:
Parking facilities next to the bridge on the Braid which leads to North Street
Leazes Street – yellow lines required especially on Sundays for safety purposes
Percy Street – yellow lines required especially on Sundays for safety purposes
Church Street – remove yellow lines in specified areas
Coquet Street car park – the retention of provision for parking in the transfer of land required clarifying
Queen Street – remove loading bays, re designate as time restricted parking bays and enforce restrictions on parking bays. Individually marked parking bays were preferred.
Others had already been reported by Amble Town Council
The Highways Officers would report back to the Clerk with any updates.
A further meeting would be arranged for Mid-January in order to discuss the traffic regulations throughout the whole town so that all was prepared for public consultation to begin in April.